Focusing on the climate crisis in a visual arts class

December 18, 2023

Over a three-month period, students at the Lycée Frantsesenia in Saint Jean Pied de Port were invited to reflect on the effects of the climate crisis, drawing inspiration from a painting by the artist Txiki Agirre "Keixeta".

Based in Zumaia, Gipuzkoa, Keixeta illustrated the theme of global warming by representing a melting iceberg.

Following his lead, students explored different aspects of the climate crisis, from the melting polar ice to wildfires, drought, earthquakes and the disappearance of bees.

"We worked by stages, starting with drawing and then collage, in order to study the different techniques that Keixeta uses," explains Julie Guerin, the class's art teacher. "From there, we moved on to large formats working in groups."

To create his painting, Keixeta painted with inks of different colors on scraps of paper. He then glued these on a large sheet of paper and added layers of acrylic paint. While only a small part of the iceberg is visible above sea level, he showed the submerged part through a sort of window in the water.

In their own creations, the students gave free rein to their imagination, highlighting different aspects of their chosen themes.