UNFCCC/COP21 & ARTISTS 4 PARIS CLIMATE, MUSÉUM NATIONAL D’HISTOIRE NATURELLE, PARIS, FRANCE

Janet Laurence’s Deep Breathing (Resuscitation for the Reef) is exhibiting at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris until 14 December, for the Climate Change Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Convention, also referred to as UNFCCC or COP21.

Laurence is one of 30 artists from 23 countries selected by the United Nations to exhibit works across Paris for the climate change talks. Together the works are presented by the UN as Artists 4 Paris Climate. Using photographs, videos, sculptural objects, natural materials and borrowed specimens, Janet’s work for this exhibition is a new site-specific, immersive installation drawing upon research in collaboration with scientists from the Great Barrier Reef Authority, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Australian Museum, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, the Lizard Island Research Station and the WWF.

This installation – in the Grande Galerie de l’Evolution at the MNHN – reflects on major climate change issues directly affecting the Great Barrier Reef. It is accompanied by a video work filmed during a residency on Lizard Island in Australia, which is projected at the Tropical Aquarium of Palais de la Porte Dorée. The works are also on display for fiac!, the Paris International Contemporary Art Fair.