Mueen Saheed paintings go to UNFCCC Headquarters and COP28 Dubai

Friday, 22 December 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Mueen Saheed with COP28 Director-General Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi

Mueen Saheed with Global Warming to United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) Chief Communications and Outreach Alexander Saier

Award winning artist from Sri Lanka Mueen Saheed recently presented his two masterpieces of art, one to COP28 Director-General Ambassador Majid Al Suwaidi on ”Net Zero Emission” and the other on Global Warming to United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) Chief Communications and Outreach Alexander Saier.

The Net Zero 2050 painting illustrates the unfortunate global catastrophe we are facing on climate change today.

Mueen Saheed’s Global Warming painting series is a poignant exploration of the impact of climate change on our planet. In a striking depiction, Saheed draws inspiration from artistic luminaries such as Monet and Van Gogh, whose works reflected the pristine and beautiful environments of their time. One half of Saheed’s series mirrors this aesthetic, portraying abstract forms reminiscent of the bygone era’s artistic elegance. The other half, however, unveils a stark contrast, a scorched earth and a polluted environment rendered in abstract expressionist forms. This dichotomy serves as a visual metaphor, vividly capturing the evolution from the once untouched beauty of nature to the current state of environmental degradation. Saheed’s series goes beyond a mere portrayal of ecological decline; it becomes a powerful narrative on the urgency of addressing climate change. Through the dualistic approach, he prompts viewers to reflect on the profound transformation our planet has undergone, emphasising the stark disparity between the past and the present. These paintings function as a call to action, urging society to recognise the consequences of unchecked industrialisation and unsustainable practices.

He has emphasised the global change of weather patterns, with rising temperatures, droughts, floods, industrial wastes, carbon emissions and tsunami. Also in the painting one sees deforestation, rising water levels, oil spills destroying marine and coral life, unprecedented emission of CO2 released by factories and transportation into the environment, in his unique style of abstract expressionism. One will also see lush fields green everywhere, clear water, fresh air, marked 2050, when we are hoping to achieve net zero emission in 2050. COP28 is a call to achieve net zero by 2050 and the Paris Agreement proposing guidelines with renewable energy solutions and to keep temperature at 1.5 or lower.

Saheed has taken inspiration from Vincent Van Gogh who saw the world differently when he looked out of his window in the 18th century. Quoting Van Gogh, Mueen said “if you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere” Saheed hopes this message will be taken to everyone to bring awareness about our responsibilities towards net zero emissions.

He says art is one of the best mediums to bring awareness as we can visually capture over 65% attention compared to other mediums that have a lower rate. He has done 15 paintings on global warming and net zero emission. He has travelled extensively taking his message and exhibited in Paris, London, Florence, India, Malaysia, the Maldives and Saudi Arabia.

The UNFCCC will display permanently this masterpiece of Mueen Saheed at the Bonn headquarters, Germany and use the painting for future awareness campaigns on global warming.