Methanehead
by Marianne Cederberg
Finland
About the Work
This oil painting explores the increasingly individualised way we talk about environmental footprints and responsibility. Six characters wander through a shapeless landscape of emissions, each carrying a block of methane on their head. Yet together, they move towards a brighter horizon of zero emissions, introducing a sense of hope. The title is a wordplay on "metalhead" and "methane", referencing the rebellious spirit of metal music and its tradition of challenging the status quo. The work questions how responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions is placed on individuals, while highlighting the need for collective action to reduce methane emissions now and in the future.
About the Artist
Marianne Cederberg
Finland
Marianne is a 23-year-old Finnish-born artist and activist whose practice explores urgent social and environmental issues through painting and photography. Her work draws attention to subjects including the environmental crisis and forced displacement. In 2020, her series of oil paintings addressing global warming and wildfires was exhibited in Todellisuuksia, a young artists' exhibition in Helsinki. Alongside her artistic practice, Marianne holds a Master of Science from the University of Oxford and has worked in education and social equality. Her experience includes teaching English and organising creative art workshops for refugee children.