‘50/50’: Digital Art Installation By Experiential Artist John Munro Celebrates Half Century of Climate Action to Mark Stockholm+50

Acclaimed experiential artist John Munro presented a major new digital art installation, 50/50, created in partnership with the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum (SPBF) and art patron Jonathan Lett, to mark a historic moment in the history of climate and environmental action.

The artwork was unveiled at Kungsträdgården, Stockholm on 1 June and run until 3 June as part of the UN SPBF’s Tech & Innovation Digital Expo, TRANSFORMERS.

Concert for Peace and the Planet at Kungsträdgården, featuring Ellie Goulding and double grammy composer Ricky Kej has also marked the occasion, on the eve of the Stockholm+50 UN conference.

Featuring an audio composition by sound artist Giovanni Agusta, Munro created 50/50 using digital ‘living’ virtual landscapes and sculptural abstracted forms as a canvas for datasets that illustrate the achievements and positive impact of the UN’s Environmental Programme in Key Biodiversity Areas over the past five decades.

Key Biodiversity Areas are Earth’s most important spaces when it comes to the global persistence of biodiversity.  These crucial ecosystems found in our Marine, Freshwater, Terrestrial, and Mountain BIOMES are constantly gaining protection from all around the world. Munro went through hundreds of detailed data sets to create the artwork that, although seemingly abstract, relates in detail to the position and size of the forms in each landscape according to the data it represents.

The installation also features alarming data on the Material Footprint of the world, revealing a concerning trend regarding raw materials being extracted from the Earth over the past 50 years. This sits in stark contrast to the positive data that shows the strides made to protect Key Biodiversity Areas that contribute significantly to the maintained biodiversity of our planet.

The work, produced by the Immersive International studio, has each scene cut into 50 individual digital artworks. Each of these living, breathing scenes run for hours as landscape artworks taken from the Stockholm multi-screen installation.

Munro, and Immersive MD Tommy Lexen who produced the installation and patron Johnathan Lett pledged to raise essential funds in support of environmental projects in collaboration with SPBF through multiple NFT auctions, funding important climate change and environmental initiatives such as empowering green technology innovation and access to environmental big data in developing nations.

John Munro, UK installation artist and designer, graduated from Goldsmiths University in London. He works with fellow creatives, designers, architects, and technologists at the creative practice ‘Immersive International’ that he founded in 2004. He is known for creating cultural projects internationally that mix spatial installations with contemporary visual techniques and narratives engaging with all fields of art and design.

John Munro said: 

“In these strange times we increasingly see conversations questioning the purpose of the arts and creative industries and I can think of no higher ambition than using our powers of storytelling and ability to create world class multi-sensory experiences to energise and engage people with the vital work that’s being done to secure the long-term health of our planet.

“Ultimately if we are to be successful, we need to inspire people, to connect to each other and the planet and its biodiversity. It’s hugely heartening that the UN is embracing the power of creativity to do so, and we are honoured and thrilled to be working alongside their data scientists to bring this approach to life starting with 50/50.

“There is no need to question current models of living, the recent UN climate report has spelled out the high stakes race we are in and the need for positive change on every level. Unlike the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s no one wants to move into the future today. We are avoiding it. Resistance to imagine a positive future directly translates to resistance to creating one. In 50/50 I wanted to celebrate the positive impact of five decades of climate action in key biodiversity areas with futuristic visions in nature and on nature. The works imagines the outcome of a unified goal of mixing our territories, collaborating under the vision of mobilisation towards harmony with nature. My creative interests are informed by abstract spatial sculptures, radical utopian architecture, and evolving psychological landscapes, and these provided the perfect symbolic canvas on which to illustrate the work that’s been done to protect our planet.”

Shereen Zorba, Head of the Global Secretariat of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment said, “ The unveiling of this art installation marks a historic moment in time: half a century of environmental action. ‘50/50’ by John Munro uses accurate planetary datasets provided by UN scientists to create a message of hope. It is art meets science. And a powerful call for action” 

Short Biography: John Munro, Artist 
John Munro, UK installation artist and designer, graduated from Goldsmiths University in London. He works with fellow creatives, designers, architects and technologists at the creative studio ‘Immersive International’ that he founded in 2004. He is known for creating cultural projects internationally that mix spatial installations with contemporary visual techniques and narratives engaging with all fields of art and design.

John’s works have been exhibited and installed in the UK, China, USA, UAE, Switzerland and have been seen and experienced by hundreds of millions of people. His collaboration with Foster + Partners and Steven Spielberg resulted in the ’Universal Sphere’ in the Comcast HQ. He has created hologram theatrical productions with brands such as IWC and BMW, as well as worked with cultural futurists to create the ‘present’ and ‘future’ of human mobility for EXPO 2020 Dubai. He has led his studio in the creation of installations in the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, the Southbank Centre, Expo 2015 Milan, and numerous other world-first experiences such as the immersive ‘Stadium Screen’ at the 2012 London Olympics opening and closing ceremonies. John also creates art works for private client commissions on yachts, and other bespoke locations.

His background of design, art and architecture creates timeless installations that are both future proof and genre defining. As the visionary behind his studio’s prolific creative output, John creates experiences that are dedicated to connecting people together on a multi-sensory level. John lives and works in Shanghai and London.

He has recently been named Senior Creative Advisor to the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum as he is an exponent for how the creative industries can be active advocates for positive change in our world.

About Immersive International  
Immersive International is a multidisciplinary creative studio and immersive design specialist who has been working at the forefront of innovative experiential design for almost two decades. The studio was founded by CEO and Chief Creative Officer John Munro in 2004.

Having designed some of the world’s most impactful and mesmerising multidimensional live experiences in public, private and commercial spaces, they have established a reputation for developing the use of new technologies to expand the art of immersive storytelling. Working collaboratively with some of the best global talent in conceptual design, visual art, animation, creative technology, and innovative spatial storytelling, they are changing the way stories are told and experienced.

Clients include some of the world’s biggest events and iconic global brands including London 2012 Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup 2014, World Expo 2015 Milan, Expo 2020 Dubai, Comcast, BMW, IWC Schaffhausen and the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. Immersive also works on commissions of bespoke digital artworks and immersive experiences for private residences, superyachts, and bespoke installations.