Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic returns for a second year of Splash and Burn with a giant SOS distress call carved into the landscape of an oil palm plantation; calling attention to the ongoing destruction of Indonesia’s forests and wildlife.
About The Project
In tribute to the last 14,600 orangutans remaining in the wild in Sumatra (Indonesia), the cosmetics company Lush, in partnership with Sumatran Orangutan Society, launched a limited edition Orangutan Soap across Europe. They made 14,600 soaps, which flew off the shelves, raising £126,014. The proceeds enabled the Orangutan Information Centre, to buy 50 hectares of oil palm plantation land, to reclaim and restore native forest to an area on the edge of the Leuser Ecosystem in Bukit Mas, Sumatra, which is the only place in the world where orangutans, tigers, elephants and rhinos coexist.
In order to restore the land for wildlife, the charity first needed to remove the oil palm trees. Seizing the opportunity to send a dramatic message, Ernest and his team worked across approximately 20 hectares, carving a giant distress call into the landscape of the plantation, by selectively removing oil palms to spell out the letters SOS.
when we asked Splash and Burn Artist and Curator, Ernest Zacharevic about the project he said: “There is very little said about Palm Oil Conflict in the global media. It seems to be getting mainstream media attention only when the fire and subsequent haze are at their peak. It happens once or twice a decade and on each occasion we hear the same report that the issue has been resolved and it will never happen again. The truth of the matter is that demand for Palm Oil is growing at such a rate that Indonesia and Malaysia will never ever be able to catch up. This project is a platform for artists to express their perception of sustainability, highlight and encourage organizations that work towards positive change and give a voice to communities that are most affected. We aim to keep the topic of Conflict Palm Oil in the global headlines and provoke an ongoing conversation that would inform the public and accelerate the change towards making the Palm Oil industry more sustainable.”
He continued: “As provocative as our project might be, we are not seeking the end of the industry. We are hoping to bring a conversation that would lead towards a sustainable compromise between producers, consumers and local communities.
Greed and corruption are a part of many companies in the industry, but so is the effort to change and adapt policies. It is important to understand the effects they have on the environment.”
Ernest also told us he released 2 prints to raise more funds for this project, and he is planning shows in the future as he continues to work further on the Splash and Burn initiative, he added: “this idea is growing into something bigger than I ever intended and there is still a lot to be done before we can achieve a real impact.”
About Splash and Burn
Splash and Burn is an Artist led initiative using creativity to encourage a wider conversation on unsustainable Palm Oil and the adverse affects it has on the dwindling wildlife population and Sumatran landscape. It is an active field campaign run with the Sumatran Orangutan Society.
Splash and Burn is an ongoing independent initiative curated by Ernest Zacharevic and coordinated by Charlotte Pyatt.
To support the activity visit the Splash and Burn site, or contact Ernest Zacharevic at [email protected].
Orangutang Information Centre: web | facebook | twitter
Ernest Zacharevic: website | facebook | instagram
