Creative Resilience seeks to give a voice to women scientists by exploring their private world of artistic expression. The exhibition will showcase the artwork of 54 women scientists from around the world. The art creators responded to a brief to submit art they had created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Creative Resilience shines a light on the artistic lives of women neuroscientists, microbiologists, doctors, nurses, medical students, researchers, science communicators, engineers, and mathematicians of all ages. These women are using their artistic talents, combined with their expertise in the fields of science, health, science communication and technology to provide a testimony of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through painting, photography, digital drawing, block print, sculpture, crocheting or film, these "sci-artists" provide a testimony of how the global health pandemic has transformed the way we interact and how we are slowly emerging from it into new, transformed societies.
We, women of science, have been fighting the pandemic, in healthcare, vaccine development, in science communication, at our homes and communities, throughout the COVID-era. This exhibit is important because it sheds light on our various roles and creative expressions, on our unique scientific perspectives, personal journey, and reflections throughout the pandemic. I am pleased to share with the world our visual stories which capture the many facets of hidden, professional, and personal experiences that dominated our lives and shared worlds during the pandemic.
Dr. Radhika Patnala, a neuroscientist and a sci-artist from Indian
While both women and men face difficulties in the current global health crisis, women have had to struggle additionally with systemic gender-based inequalities. Women of science remain largely invisible, even though they have been at the frontlines combating the COVID-19 pandemic. This creates a need for them to be heard and to communicate their unique experiences of how their lives and perspectives have been transformed by the pandemic.
The boundaries between science and art can sometimes blur; both have creative roots: By making visible their visions, struggles and ambitions, these women scientists inspire us to make our societies more creative and gender-equal in the post Covid world.
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General
Key Dates
- 26 October - Opening of the exhibition of accredited Journalists and the media, 6PM, UNESCO Headquarters
- 27 October - Exhibition premiere and inauguration by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
- 28 October - within the limit of authorized number of persons, due to Covid-19 restrictions, a screening of all artworks will be available for the general public at UNESCO HQ, and for the press and accredited personnel.
Creative Resilience can be visited online at this address (https://en.unesco.org/creativeresilience) as from 25 October 2021.
