04–06 April 2024 | Studio Idam, Berlin

Following the success of the first two Drishya Kala Klima exhibitions, the third edition expanded into a deeply collaborative and immersive experience. Hosted at Studio Idam in Berlin and co-created with Colombian street artist Ana Villa (@palabrerasycallejeras) and food curator Rakesh Kasturi (@mformittai), this edition brought together over 100 participants from the fields of climate policy, design, education, activism, and the arts for three days of visual storytelling, shared meals, and interactive dialogue.

The space itself became part of the narrative. Black cloth cuttings hung across the gallery, creating a layered, cocoon-like atmosphere that mirrored the emotional and environmental weight of the climate crisis. Suspended books floated above visitors’ heads—a dual symbol: an invitation to engage with knowledge as they moved through the photographs, and a quiet provocation—we already have the information, so what’s stopping us from acting on it?

At the heart of the exhibition were photographic montages by Sanyam Bajaj, exploring the emotional terrain of a world in flux—displacement, illusion, survival, and fragile hope. The images unfolded like fragments of memory and warning, inviting viewers to pause, feel, and reflect.

Another powerful element was the collaboration with the global initiative Climate Clock, which introduced a ticking visual reminder: the time left to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Mounted on the wall, the clock silently yet urgently reinforced the central message—that the time to act is not tomorrow, but now.

The exhibition also hosted a "Paint Your Thoughts" workshop with Ana Villa, where visitors used stencils and printmaking to create messages of resistance and imagination, and a vegan food pop-up by MforMittai, transforming local flavors into a shared, low-carbon experience. These layers—art, activism, food, conversation—came together to transform the gallery into more than a viewing space: it became a temporary community for climate reflection and response.

As Drishya Kala Klima continues to evolve, Climate Tides marked a powerful step forward in reimagining how art can serve not only as a mirror to the crisis, but also as a catalyst for collective agency, creativity, and change.

Picture Credits: Hannah Hotz