In his seminal work on Environmental Memory, Lawrence Buell (2017) stated the possibility that literature, the visual arts, and other expressive media might act as carrier for environmental memory over against the inertial force of what the environmental psychologist Peter Kahn defines as environmental generational amnesia. Kahn’s idea says “that each generation perceives the environment into which it's born, no matter how developed, urbanized or polluted, as the norm.” (2017).  He affirms the what each generation comes to think of as 'nature' is relative, based on what it's exposed to. He argues that more frequent and meaningful interactions with nature can enhance our connection to -- and definition of -- the natural world. “environmental memory” then refers to our conscious or unconscious in-habitation of the planet, and thereby to the viability of earth’s environmental future. On the same line of thought Alfred Gells (1998), in his Art and Agency: An Anthropological Theory, defines art “as the outcome and/or the instrument of social agency”.

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The presentation will be also a visual journey through the works of visual artists of the south have been addressing these issues: among others Clemencia Echeverri, Mogaje Guhiu (Don Abel), Jeisson Castillo, Miguel A. Rojas, Libia Posada, Qin Ga, Carlos Uribe, Tirsa Chindoy, Rosa Tandioy, Vito Apüshana, Liao Zhang.