Angela Hansen is a Canadian encaustic artist with a keen interest in ecological and environmental art practices as a factor in cultural transformations as well as a bona fide tree hugger. Since childhood growing up on a farm in the 1970’s she has been very aware of the interconnectedness of all living forms on this planet and sees a need for this understanding by everyone as more crucial than ever in the race to slow, stop, or even reverse the impacts of global warming in the epoch of Anthropocene. Her chosen medium allows her to make her own paint and to incorporate natural, reclaimed, scavenged, and, repurposed materials. You are likely to find her beachcombing, nature-walking, or in her garden talking to the bees if she is not in her studio; that is if she hasn’t been evacuated from her home due to ravaging forest fires.

Angela’s 3-dimensional encaustic installations have focussed on climate change; specifically the issues of ocean warming and food scarcity. CONSUME was an immersive encaustic exhibition based upon the Svalbard Seed Vault in Norway. Her artist statement for this installation reads in part: “Every living thing consumes something – humans are particularly good at it. This consumption has caught up with us, resulting in long-term catastrophic impacts upon our planet. Global warming effects combined with geo-political conflict are putting crops at risk, and with the ever increasing human population, there is a great need to protect and preserve the biodiversity of food crops. Her exhibition BREATH, is an ode to our oceans and suggests to the viewer: “The ocean and its plant life account for over half of the planet’s oxygen production and absorb nearly one third of the carbon dioxide generated from burning fossil fuels. Climate change and oceanic warming are resulting in the destruction of sensitive ecosystems integral to keeping the carbon cycle in balance. Take a deep breath and consider…”

The most pressing environmental issues of our day will continue to be the subject of future research and projects featuring fantastical and otherworldly sculptures that draw the viewer in while challenging them to question or ponder an environmental concern; perhaps to even impart change.

You can find more information about Angela and her work by visiting www.angelahansenart.com or @angelahansenart on Instagram.