MAYOR'S FOREWORD

In this the International Year of Planet Earth, Banyule City Council is proud to present the touring exhibition Redeeming the Ruin the Art of Consumption. In a society where shopping has become a hobby and possessions for many of us overflow from our homes spilling into self-storage facilities, this exhibition creates a space for consideration about the elements that drive consumer behaviour. Bringing together the work of 11 artists from New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria this thought provoking exhibition calls into question the norms and values inherent in consumer behaviour.

The exhibition is the product of a collaboration between Banyule's Waste Services and Culture and Leisure Services which incorporates the Banyule Art Collection. Banyule Waste Services has long set the bench mark for waste diversion and waste minimisation education. Banyule City Council is committed to encouraging the change required to help us achieve a sustainable future. Now is the time to tackle the root cause of waste generation by directly addressing consumption behaviour.

By salvaging post-consumer waste before it becomes tomorrow's landfill, the artists use wit and subversion to encourage a better understanding of the role excessive and unsustainable production and consumption patterns play in the deterioration of the Earth's natural systems. By redirecting our waste minimisation energies, beyond just recycling to embrace waste avoidance through better consumer choices, we as a society can achieve our goal of environmental sustainability.

Banyule City Council is privileged that Professor Ian Lowe, President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, has written such an insightful introduction to this catalogue.

On behalf of Council I thank Arts Victoria for their support of the exhibition enabling it to travel to regional galleries in Victoria. I would also like to thank Premiere Partner Sustainability Victoria, who are supporting the exhibition under their ResourceSmart initiative, for their generous support together with VISY Recycling and Metropolitan Waste Management Group.

Horsham Regional Art Gallery, Latrobe Regional Gallery, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Shepparton Art Gallery and Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery will each host the exhibition during 2008-2009 and I would like to thank each gallery for their involvement.

Lastly I would like to thank each artist for their participation. Their insight and imagination, realised in such interesting and engaging work, has provided an important platform for the discussion of these important issues.

It is my fervent hope that you are both challenged and inspired by this exhibition to undertake the necessary lifestyle changes we must all make to ensure the health of the planet for future generations.

Cr Wayne Phillips
Mayor, Banyule City Council

INTRODUCTION

Climate change is a serious issue. The Earth is about 0.7 degrees Celsius hotter than a hundred years ago, warmer than at any time since credible records began. As predicted by climate scientists, there have been other changes associated with the warming: shrinking of glaciers, thinning of polar ice, rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme events such as droughts and severe storms. Climate change is already having serious economic effects: examples include reduced agricultural production, increased costs of severe events like fires and storms, as well as the need to consider radical water supply measures such as desalination plants. Of course, climate change doesn't just have short-term economic effects. The Millennium Assessment Report, released in 2005 by the United Nations, warned that species loss is accelerating as habitat loss, introduced species and chemical pollution are supplemented by climate change. The report warned that we could lose between 10 and 30 per cent of all mammal, bird and amphibian species this century. These are alarming consequences that demand an urgent and concerted response.

How are we responsible as individuals? Climate change is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas. Direct household energy use accounts for about 10 per cent of Australia's overall energy consumption. But coal is burned in power stations to supply the electricity we use, accounting for about another 15 per cent. And most of Australia's transport energy is in private use for our cars. Energy is also used to produce and supply the food we eat, the water we drink and wash with, the appliances in our homes, our clothes and so on. Directly or indirectly, more than half the nation's greenhouse gas production is associated with our consumption as individuals.

So we can influence the future. Actually, we are all influencing the future, whether we realise it or not. We are all making decisions every day that either accelerate or help to slow global warming. I believe it is our responsibility to make choices that will be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. It can be little things like shorter showers, re-using and recycling, eating less meat, using public transport or cycling or walking rather than driving a car, even using those old clothes another year before replacing them. Or it can be big things: solar hot water, green power, genuine carbon offsets, getting rid of the car, living in a smaller dwelling, only having one or two children. It should also include badgering our politicians to make the structural decisions that help: good public transport, serious targets for renewable energy, ambitious efficiency standards, making the polluters pay.

All our choices affect the future. If we want a clean, green future, it is up to us!

Professor Ian Lowe AO
President, Australian Conservation Foundation