Mike Stubbs

Mike Stubbs
Climate Emergency Services
Commissioned for Creative Folkestone Triennial 2021

Mike worked with customised vehicles before he went to art school, so his understanding of the emotional levers available to the motor industry is well developed. In respect to this artwork, his emotional understanding underpins his own response to that industry in the light of Extinction Rebellion and other manifestations of social concern.

how to translate

a story of love and hate

internal conflict

addiction

hope

routes

games (gta)

is my cool  - anyone else's  cool ?

custom car culture very male

gender politics

or something less of a utility entirely

less transport more weird?

Climate Emergency Services is a ‘conflicted’ vehicle and artwork, aiming to evoke and challenge our love / hate relationship with motor vehicles in a period becoming characterised by our increasing fear of climate change. The conflicted quality of the artwork’s message is condensed into the contract between the exterior and interior of the vehicle.

Outside, the bodywork references the high temperature culture of car modification for ‘high performance’ and the linkage between the conspicuous consumption of oil and ‘the apocalyptic’. Inside, the cabin is designed to evoke a science laboratory that might be plotting the environmental indicators triggered by climate change, and a place of cool optimism in which the thinking needed to survive that climate change can be pursued.

Climate Emergency Services transcends its status as mobile artwork to become a 'mobile place’ that can act as the focus for outdoor workshops, and assist in visits to schools and events or festivals.

Find more of Mike Stubb's work.