From April to August 2025, the ‘Herds’, a public art installation travelled to many cities in Africa and Europe on its tour from the Congo Basin to the Artic Circle to heighten the awareness of the impact that climate change is having on wildlife. This can of course be extended to humans as well and reminds us of the importance for us to co-exist with the natural world and the plight of all life forms to survive on the earth in a changing climate. The performative art display not only sensitised audiences across cities to this plight, but it was a showcase of artistic brilliance and ingenuity as the participants snaked through streets mesmerising onlookers and those who dared to join the performances.
Additionally, there was a secondary theme in the splendid display of the medium used to create the magnificent life-like animal forms. The performative art installation comprised large, ‘life-size’ puppet animals made from old cardboard, rubber and other ‘waste’ material, demonstrating there is so much value in things that we normally discard, and how this material can be intelligently repurposed into new products and even beautiful imaginative pieces that were paraded throughout the various cities.
The showcase was fully immersive and participatory for its audiences. In each city visited, the Herds team collaborated with local partners to encapsulate the sights and sounds unique to each location making the encounter with the ‘Herds’ display a truly transformative experience for all. Although the tour is finished, it is certain to be staged again in some form. Footage from the tour can be seen on the Herds website below.
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