Environmental Crisis and Contemporary Art Practice: A Critical Review of Secondary Literature.
Yamini Sondhiya*1, Dr. Sunita2, and Prof. Vinit Kumar3
1 Institute of Fine Art, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U.P.), India
2Institute of Fine Art, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U.P.) India
3Institute of Environmental Science, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U.P.) India
Abstract
The intensification of environmental crises across the globe—manifested through climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and resource depletion—has profoundly reshaped the cultural imagination of the twenty-first century. Within this context, contemporary art has increasingly emerged not merely as a site of aesthetic production but as a critical platform for ecological reflection, public engagement, and environmental activism. This review paper examines the evolving relationship between environmental crisis and contemporary art practice, with particular emphasis on Indian contemporary art since 2000. Drawing upon secondary literature including scholarly articles, exhibition catalogues, curatorial essays, and critical art histories, the study synthesizes major theoretical frameworks such as ecocriticism, environmental aesthetics, postcolonial ecology, and art activism. The review identifies how Indian artists employ installation, site-specific practice, recycled materials, community participation, and indigenous knowledge systems to address urgent ecological concerns. At the same time, the literature reveals significant debates regarding the effectiveness, accessibility, and institutionalization of environmental art. While many practices successfully generate awareness and alternative ecological imaginaries, others risk remaining symbolic or confined to elite art spaces. By critically comparing existing scholarship, this paper highlights key contributions, conceptual tensions, and research gaps, particularly the need for more empirical studies and regionally diverse documentation. The review concludes that contemporary art in India functions as an important cultural mediator between environmental knowledge and public consciousness, yet its transformative potential depends on deeper interdisciplinary collaboration and socially embedded methodologies.
Keywords: environmental art, contemporary art, ecocriticism, sustainability, Indian art, art activism, environmental aesthetics
