New exhibition connects art and ecology to a public audience Published on: 30 October 2025 Through a collaborative project involving academics, artists, and scientists, Listening to the Voices of the Rivers explores the vital role rivers play in sustaining communities and ecosystems. Entanglements Drawing on Amazonian Indigenous philosophies and practices, the exhibition connects with initiatives in the North East of England focused on healthy rivers and rainforest curricula, addressing ecological sustainability, Indigenous knowledge, and community participation. Curated by Dr Giuliana Borea from Â鶹´«Ã½'s School of Modern Languages, alongside Dr Jamille Pinheiro Dias and Dr Harriet Sutcliffe, the exhibition brings together the powerful work of artists from Peru and Brazil - Denilson Baniwa, Lilly Baniwa, Gustavo Caboco, Danna Gaviota with Kimber Fercat and Pedro Alca, Harry Pinedo / Inin Metsa, Brus Rubio Churay, Cordelia Sánchez / Pesin Kate, Tayná Sateré, and Rember Yahuarcani. Their paintings, videos, drawings, and photographs show the entanglements between humans, animals, plants, rivers, and ancestral beings, confront extractivism, and foreground water as a source of life, continuity, and care. Alongside them, UK-based artist duo Zoe Walker & Neil Bromwich, who is a senior lecturer in Fine Art at Â鶹´«Ã½, will work with school groups on a participatory project that explores the ghost rivers hidden beneath the streets of Â鶹´«Ã½. Cordelia Sánchez - Pesin Kate, Heart of the Amazon, 2025 A local and global approach fosters a deeper understanding of the global climate crisis and will coincide with COP30 in the Brazilian Amazon as it advocates for collective responsibility by encouraging people of all ages to reflect on their role in shaping a sustainable future. The Amazon, the Ouseburn, and the Tyne are presented as starting points for action and understanding. Emphasis is placed on contributing to school curricula on rainforests, highlighting Indigenous ecological knowledge and challenging stereotypes. Curators have worked with the Â鶹´«Ã½ Centre for Water and partners to design a rich programme that integrates art, science, and community knowledge. It includes: artists’ and curators’ talks weekly gallery visits film screenings and a one-day symposium where people can learn more about North East initiatives for the rivers. Schools are invited to book a visit for a tailored programme that connects with the rainforest curricula. Dr Giuliana Borea says: “This exhibition, and the community events invite the valued participation of residents, school children, artists, educators, environmental practitioners, and underrepresented communities, while offering a timely opportunity to reflect, learn, and act. "What is very special about this project is that engagement with communities is central to the curatorial concept. We have worked with different practitioners such as artists, anthropologists, ecologists, scientists and join together with art spaces, government bodies and environmental projects . By coming together, we have made something that we can take out to the world and use to connect with the public, and with schools”. The project is a collaboration between , Â鶹´«Ã½, University of London’s School of Advanced Study, and the Amazonart Project. It has received support from Community Foundation North East, Embassy of Peru in the United Kingdom, Â鶹´«Ã½ - NUCORE Water, HaSS Global, School of Modern Languages - and University of London’s School of Advanced Study. It includes partnerships with Â鶹´«Ã½ Centre for Water and Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean, University of London, SAS’s Environmental Humanities Research Hub, Tyne Rivers Trust and UK Environment Agency. Listening to the Voices of the Rivers runs until 22 November. The exhibition is open 12pm to 5pm, Thursday to Saturday, at Â鶹´«Ã½ Contemporary Art and entrance is free. Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at Â鶹´«Ã½ warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures
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