Location: National Museum, Oslo
CO₂ Emissions: Approximately 25,000 tons over the past 10 years
Focus: Climate Change as a Global Crisis
Counterpart: Huma Bhabha – Untitled (2019)
Context & Connection
Edvard Munch’s The Scream (1893) is an iconic expression of existential dread. The figure’s silent scream echoes across a chaotic, swirling landscape—a visual cry of anguish that captures humanity’s deepest fears. Today, this fear mirrors our response to the climate crisis, as rising temperatures, wildfires, and environmental collapse spiral out of control. Munch’s work becomes an enduring symbol of humanity’s collective anxiety in the face of an uncertain, collapsing world.
Huma Bhabha’s Untitled (2019) provides a contemporary counterpoint that is equally haunting. With raw, visceral imagery, Bhabha fuses human and alien elements to depict a fractured, unsettling figure. Its mouth open wide—caught between scream and silence—it embodies the terror of environmental collapse and the alienation caused by humanity’s disconnection from nature. The acidic greens and distorted body reflect a planet corrupted and transformed, pushing viewers to confront the consequences of inaction.
Statement
"Edvard Munch’s The Scream is a timeless embodiment of existential dread. Painted during a moment of personal turmoil, it now resonates as a universal cry in the face of climate breakdown—a world spinning into chaos as humanity looks on in fear and paralysis.
Huma Bhabha’s Untitled (2019) amplifies this cry with visceral urgency. Her distorted, fractured figure—part human, part alien—stands as a witness to environmental destruction and a warning of a planet pushed beyond recognition. The vibrant, corrupted greens contrast with the muted, broken body, symbolizing a nature under siege and humanity’s alienation from its roots.
Chosen in alignment with Greta Thunberg’s call to recognize climate change as a global crisis, this pairing demands that we listen to the world’s silent scream. Munch and Bhabha compel us to face this fear, act decisively, and fight for a future that remains within our reach—if only we respond before it’s too late."
Why This Works
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The Cry for Help
- The Scream: An expression of personal and collective dread, symbolizing a chaotic, uncertain world.
- Untitled (2019): A fractured, monstrous figure embodying environmental collapse and humanity’s alienation.
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Visual and Emotional Resonance
- Both works evoke discomfort and fear, forcing viewers to confront their role in the unfolding climate crisis.
- Munch’s swirling chaos meets Bhabha’s visceral alien form, illustrating the urgency of the present moment.
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Greta’s Vision
- Greta Thunberg calls for global recognition of climate change as the existential crisis of our time. These works give that crisis a face, a voice, and a visceral scream we can no longer ignore.
Exhibition Context
- The Scream: A timeless cry of existential dread and humanity’s fear of chaos.
- Untitled (2019): A contemporary confrontation with environmental collapse—alien, haunting, and disturbingly relevant.
- Greta’s Message: The climate crisis is not distant or abstract. It is here, now, and demands our immediate action to prevent irreversible loss.