Special Issue Explores Environmental Art History and Contemporary Ecocritical Practices in Socialist Contexts

A special issue published across ARTMargins Online and ARTMargins Print Journal examines the Socialist Anthropocene in visual arts, stemming from the ERC/UKRI-supported SAVA project led by Maja Fowkes at UCL Institute of Advanced Studies. This interdisciplinary inquiry investigates environmental impacts and ecological critiques within socialist systems during the twentieth century, focusing on industrial expansion, resource extraction, and agricultural practices. The publication includes analyses of historical artworks and contemporary research-driven practices that address environmental transformations. Contributions explore topics such as extractivism, infrastructure development, nuclear legacies, and rural industrialization. Specific articles feature Polish artist Władysław Hasior's ecological critique, East German textile artist Christa Jeitner's environmental concerns, and contemporary projects by Anna Zett and Rita Süveges examining waste trade and weather manipulation. A roundtable discussion with Central Asian artists and curators addresses regional ecological challenges intersecting with socialist legacies. The special issue aims to provide an alternative framework to mainstream Anthropocene narratives by highlighting socialist environmental histories and their relevance to current climate crises.