Screen City Biennial 2019 confronts Norway's oil-funded climate art contradictions

The 2019 Screen City Biennial, held in Stavanger, Norway, was themed 'Ecologies – Lost, Found and Continued' and examined the moral dilemmas of a climate-centric event financed through fossil fuel extraction. Curators Daniela Arriado and Vanina Saracino emphasized these inconsistencies. At Stavanger Airport, Tuomas A. Laitinen presented 'Tentacle Tongue,' an augmented reality piece that reflected on the carbon emissions linked to global art travel. Meanwhile, Andrew Norman Wilson's video 'Ode to Seekers 2012' at the Norwegian Oil Museum drew connections between mosquitoes, syringes, and oil pumps. Enrique Ramírez's sound installation, 'Tidal Pulse II,' enhanced fjord cruises with music and ethical interviews. The biennial, supported by Norway's oil revenues, sought to engage wider audiences across various locations, including Stavanger Airport and the Norwegian Oil Museum.