AA alum (2000) Mathew Emmett has been selected to represent Great Britain in Video Art at the Cultural Olympiad at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Mathew’s project, Polluted Pool, will be exhibited at Château de Montsoreau, the UNESCO-certified Museum of Contemporary Art, from 14 June – 11 August. Polluted Poolleverages the Olympic platform to confront spectators with the stark reality of water pollution. The piece is part of Mathew’s ongoing project entitled Terminal Landscapes, which addresses climate change as a symptom of degraded ecosystems resulting from human behaviour.

Polluted Pool draws inspiration from the urgent need to address environmental degradation in the Anthropocene epoch. Recent data highlights failures by environmental regulators to respond promptly to serious pollution events including major oil, slurry and sewage spills, which significantly impact people and the environment. Witnessing the increasing levels of pollution in water bodies and recognising regulatory failures motivated Mathew to create an audio-visual piece that highlights these issues and compels viewers to reflect on their role in this crisis. The Olympic Games, a symbol of human achievement, contrasts poignantly with Polluted Pool, underscoring the paradox of celebrating excellence amidst environmental decay.

The opportunity to represent Great Britain in this exhibition arose from an open Cultural Olympiad call presented by Philippe Méaille, Président de l'Association Culturelle du Château de Montsoreau, and Florence Dabin, Présidente du Département de Maine-et-Loire.

Image: Still from Polluted Pool by Mathew Emmett © Mathew Emmett, 2024.