Free Lent Exhibition:
Eden Bleeds by Chantal Meza
Dates:
7th March to 22nd April 2025
Place:
St Mary Redcliffe Parish Church.
Parish Office, 12 Colston Parade, Redcliffe, Bristol.
BS1 6RA
Opening times
Monday to Saturday 8–5pm
Sunday: 12–4:30pm
Description:
The exhibition Eden Bleeds is a solo exhibition that addresses the problem of ecological devastation. Showcasing for the first time 13 works it asks what is this vision for the planet we have now given to ourselves? What is unique about this exhibition is the abstract style and contrasting forms, which blur the lines between beauty and devastation. As the colours and compositions bleed into one another, so the question of ecology is reimagined anew.
Chantal Meza’s work practice is focus on the the human seen through various forms of disappearance. She uses the ancient form of abstraction as the language that gestures her concerns around the political-scientific sphere by observing the history of power within social constructs and its shifting relations. Her projects are often developed collaboratively with academics, policy makers and member of civil society whose knowledge bring essential perspectives to her work.
Free public Events Accompanying Chantal’s series there is a suite of events to open conversation in an art-led way between artists, experts, and broader publics. The exhibition will provide a contemplative mediation on the subject in a fitting spiritual setting. Leading thinkers from pioneering organizations like The Eco-Leadership Institute, Alameda Institute and Centre for the Study of Violence will participate in a series of public talks and workshops. Tours of the works will be held to inform publics on the importance of art and how we might reimagine social responses to this collective planetary issue and bring new attention to the multiple ways ecologies are endangered.
Chantal Meza is a painter based in the United Kingdom. Her work has featured in exhibitions, auctions and biennials in prominent Museums and Galleries in Mexico, United Kingdom, Paraguay and Germany. She has delivered international lectures and workshops at reputable universities such as Harvard University, École Normale Superiéure, Goethe Univeristät, Goldsmiths Univeristy among others, as well as being commissioned publicly and privately. Her work has received the support of grants, public recognitions, and awards of prominent institutions in the cultural sector. She has written extensively on the links between Art and Politics and featured on prominent news outlets such as the BBC’s news and arts programmes. More recently Her "State of Disappearance" series has been exhibited in Bristol, London, Oxford and is now on display at the Chancellors Building at the University of Bath.
EVENTS
15th March 2025
The soul of Ecological Thinking.
17:00hrs to 18:00hrs
The Eco-Leadership Institute has been active and influential in humanitarian work supporting those in war zones and natural disasters, engaging leaders in the high-tech and manufacturing sector, and with religious organisations. Its ground-breaking approach provides organisations that are more engaged, purposeful, and adaptive in the face of urgent challenges. In this conversation between artist Chantal Meza and Founder and CEO Simon Western they will discuss how this organisation connects leadership and coaching to ecosystem thinking and how they help create social value beyond profit or growth while providing healthy interconnections between people, organisations, technology, and the natural world.
Dr. Simon Western, Founder and CEO - The Eco-Leadership Institute.
29th March 2025
Energy Transition.
17:00hrs to 18:00hrs
The launch of the dossier “Energy Transitions: Just and Beyond” by the Alameda Institute will explore contributions from the editors and authors as they connect climate change, just transition, political strategies, and the geopolitics of energy. Eith the presence of Sabrina Fernandes, Rodrigo Nunes and Amir Lebdioui, the panel aims to provide an accessible and comprehensive analysis of tendencies and conflicts to advance a global energy transition within the next years. While a just transition to a low-emissions society requires moving beyond sectoral approaches to mitigation and adaptation, it is clear that bottlenecks in the energy transition present one of the biggest challenges to curb the amount of greenhouse gases we send to the atmosphere. The talk will focus on the challenges of coordinating an internationalist just transition as we race against time.
Sabrina Fernandes is a sociologist and political economist with a PhD from Carleton University, Canada.
Rodrigo Nunes is a Senior Political Theory and Organisation Lecturer at the University of Essex.
Amir Lebdioui is an Algerian development economist, Associate Professor of the Political Economy of Development and the director of TIDE Centre at the University of Oxford
12th April 2025
The weaponization of Ecology.
17:00hrs to 18:00hrs
This talk will explore the relationship between violence and ecology in the classic Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. It would look at the ways in which Dante understood ecology as a force which not only sustained his life but can be weaponized to bring terrible harm and suffering. This is a free 1hr Event where you will be able to speak with Brad and chat with the artist about her work.
Brad Evans is a Professor of Political Violence & Aesthetics and founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Violence at the University of Bath.
Partners and Supporters:
The Eco-Leadership Institute is a ground-breaking approach that aligns leadership practice with ecosystem principles, creating organisations that are more engaged, purposeful, and adaptive in the face of urgent challenges.
The Alameda Institute is a research institute that connects with social movements to understand how engaged research can respond to contemporary struggles.
The Centre for the Study of Violence pursues dialogues that deepens understanding of the inter-relationships between different forms of violence and share a commitment to the prevention of violence and amelioration of its impact, including through education.
Bristol Fine Art est.1958. For decades we have been a part of the art community of Bristol, supporting artists with a wealth of materials and advice. We have a deep understanding and knowledge of art materials, only stocking Artists favourites.
