'Changes' exhibit in Davos to inspire care for creation in mould of Pope Francis

By Mario Galgano and Deborah Castellano Lubov

Lia Beltrami, filmmaker and author, has brought her latest exhibit to the 2024 World Economic Forum, seeking to employ art to invite world leaders to pay more attention to climate change.

In an interview with Vatican News' Mario Galgano in Davos, Switzerland, the "traveler of hope," as Pope Francis has called her, spoke about her exhibit displayed at the Vatican's stand, describing her approach as beginning with art rather than economics or politics.

Her work forms part of the stand entitled "Care for Our Common Home Reception with the Vatican's Emotion to Generate Change Exhibit and Sustainable Markets Initiative," organized by the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

"I really think it's important to go, speak, and try to bring the message of hope everywhere," she said, "and I find that this world represented in Davos is a world that really needs that. It is thirsty and needs to receive a word of hope and a word of humanity."

Inspiring change

Art, she suggested, can inspire emotions to generate change.

"Through photography, film, and art," she said, "we try to touch the emotions of people to generate change. And here in Davos, where sometimes it's difficult to see art and emotions, we are trying to bring our little voice."

She described how her exhibit has already made an impact on attendees in Davos who are generally not members of the Church.

"It's unbelievable," said Ms. Beltrami. "Every time we speak and we bring the example of a story we have narrated with some sisters, or in a mission, or around the Church, everyone is opening their eyes and, 'drinking,' if you will, what we say, because we are bringing small examples of life, of heroes, of our time."

Narrating silent heroes' stories

"People need the silent heroes," she argued, recalling that they are here to narrate these stories.

"Even if we can just bring a little drop in the desert of humanity and emotions, it's life-changing," she said.

"Together with formidable partners," she added, "we are presenting the exhibition 'Changes', brought to life with the Dicastery for Communication, focused on climate change."

'Changes'

'Changes' is a photo exhibition of 24 shots that contrast the effects of climate change with the hope generated by the emotions and feelings produced by God’s creation.

It was on display for the duration of the XVI General Assembly of the Synod at the Holy See Press Office in October 2023, and was also set up in Dubai for the COP28 climate summit.

It features photographers including Neşe Arı, Raffaele Merler, Giampaolo Calzà, Vassilis Ikoutas, Asaf Ud Daula, Sebastiano Rossitto, Ferran Paredes Rubio, and Francesca Larrain.

Following the event in Davos, 'Changes' is expected to be set up in St. Peter’s Square in May, New York City in September, and other locations, which are yet to be defined.

Making an impact

Ms. Beltrami explained that her team is presenting the exhibit to CEOs in such a way as to draw attention to the phenomenon of climate change, keeping its focus on the Pope's admonitions and words regarding the climate crisis.

"We also bring the example of the film 'In-visibles' that we have done with the World Women's Observatory," she said, recalling how the film, distributed by Vatican Media, highlights "women helping women" in Togo and Ghana.

"This kind of collaboration made a strong and visible impact in Togo, where we are doing projects," she said.

The 30-minute documentary film In-Visibles premiered during the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations General Assembly in Rome in May, and narrates the descent into the profound suffering borne by African women, while showing their rebirth.