‘If Not Now’ is an artist’s film that combines animation with environmental documentary storytelling. The film was commissioned by Rothamsted Research – a ‘farm platform’ that is part farm, part science living laboratory, and part data collection centre. The work at Rothamsted Research broadly consists of testing, experimenting and measuring the impact of different farming practices upon climate change, biodiversity soil health, emissions to water and air and food production. Ultimately, their research feeds into developing farming policies within the wider economic, political, environmental and social contexts of the UK. Important work given the impact of farming on the environment.
The film’s soundtrack is a poetic and reflective conversation between two people who ask questions without offering answers. Animated drawings of species at risk, pathogens and chemical pollutants are layered over video footage of rivers, fields and sky. The film ends with the urgency of: ‘ Are we ready to change the way we feed ourselves? If not now, then when?’
As part of my research process, I delivered interactive workshops with a group of scientists at Rothamsted. I also developed a series of digital prints called ‘Print Provocations’ which were installed onsite. They ask a series of interrelated questions – often really complex multi-layered questions with no easy answers.
The film will be used with farmers, landowners and the general public to start conversations about farming practices, land use, biodiversity and food security.