The Prado Is ‘Updating’ Its Masterpieces to Illustrate the Chaos Unleashed by Climate Change

What if the smiling lady in a
blissful, 1777 painting by Goya was actually a horrified climate
refugee, struggling simply to survive? To coincide with the 2019 UN
Climate Change Conference “COP25” currently underway in Madrid
through December 13, the Spanish capital’s Museo del Prado has
teamed up with conservation group WWF for a new campaign, releasing
a selection of four “updated” masterpieces which reflect the
potential consequences of our changing planet.

Titled “+1,5ºC Lo Cambia
Todo”—which translates from Spanish to ”+1.5ºC changes
everything”—the joint initiative points to our rising global
temperatures, and calls for governments to take action to ensure
that the number does not exceed an increase greater than 1.5
degrees Celsius (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit). 

Four paintings from the Prado’s
collection were selected by WWF and museum experts for the
campaign: El Paso de la
Laguna Estigia by
Joachim Patinir; El
Quitasol by Francisco de
Goya; Niños en la
playa by Joaquín
Sorolla; and Felipe IV a
Caballo by Velázquez.
The modified works address rising sea levels, the threat of
extinction to entire species, the impact of extreme droughts, and
social discord surrounding climate refugees. The four doctored
images of the masterpieces will be presented on billboards
throughout Madrid’s city center, as well as part of WWF’s digital
engagement campaign, #LoCambiaTodo. 

“For the Museum, this project
represents an opportunity to continue placing art and its values at
the service of society,” said Javier Solana, President of the Royal
Board of Trustees of the Prado Museum in a statement. “The symbolic
value of the masterpieces and the impressive artistic recreation
that we present with WWF is an excellent way to transmit to
everyone and especially to the young generations what is really at
stake in this fight against climate change.” 

Juan Carlos del Olmo, General
Secretary of WWF Spain, elaborated further: “The celebration of
COP25 will place Madrid as a global focal point of political and
media attention. Therefore, we want to take the opportunity to send
a strong message to everyone through the universal language of
art.”

Below are images of the original
paintings and their altered counterparts.

The post The Prado Is ‘Updating’ Its Masterpieces to
Illustrate the Chaos Unleashed by Climate Change appeared first
on artnet News.