The Pollution Pods were created by artist Michael Pinsky for the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and commissioned to test whether art can really change people’s perceptions of, and actions around, climate change. With one in five children in London now having asthma, and over half their young counterparts in Delhi suffering with stunted lung development from which they will never recover, visitors are invited to experience the direct, physical result of Western consumerism on the pollution levels in countries across the world.
Visitors pass through a series of climatically controlled pods and compare five contrasting global environments. Within each interconnected dome the air quality, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide levels of five cities are recreated. Starting with the truly clean air of Tautra in Norway, the journey continues through the smog and pollution of London, New Dehli, Beijing and Sao Paolo.
Much of this pollution is driven by the ever-increasing needs of capitalist consumerism and urban transport. And whilst much of the developed world still live in an environment with relatively clean air, the ill-effects of airborne toxins can now be seen not only across industrial centres such as China and India, but across many cities in the UK including London and Manchester.
The experience of walking through the Pollution Pods demonstrates that these worlds are interconnected and interdependent. Our need for ever cheaper goods is reflected in the ill-health of many people in the world and in the ill-health of our planet as a whole.
The site for Pollution Pods has been generously supported by HMP & YOI Portland
With thanks to: BuildwithHubs, Airlabs , NTNU, IFF (International Flavours and Fragrances) , Aromaco, Kings College London, Arts Council England.
