Ryuichi Sakamoto joins Disko Bay Expedition

Ryuichi Sakamoto joins a 40 strong crew of artists and scientists on Cape Farewell’s Disko Bay expedition to the west coast of Greenland.

“It is important for me to listen to what’s going on there with my own ears, because the arctic sea is the front-line of climate change.” – Ryuichi Sakamoto on his decision to join Cape Farewell

On September 25, Ryuichi Sakamoto and 40 other artists, scientists, architects, comedians, musicians, playwrights, composers, engineers, film-makers and journalists journey aboard the science research vessel – Grigory Mikheev, from Kangerlussuaq to Disko Bay. The boat will then voyage across the front of the Jakobshavn Glacier, one of Greenland’s largest glaciers moving at a faster rate than ever before, losing 20 million tons of ice every day.

The climate challenge is a cultural one, it is the way we have evolved our lives and values that is the cause of climate change. Cape Farewell asks our best creative minds to respond to and inspire a sustainable cultural vision to this potentially devastating climate reality.

In 2007, there was record loss of the sea ice at the North Pole.  Recent satellite images show that this year’s figure could exceed the 2007 demise of the Northern Ice Cap.  Onboard science teams from the British Geological Survey and National Oceanography Centre will undertake scientific research, mapping the ocean currents and analysing the Greenlandic seabed. Film Director, Peter Gilbert will be documenting the journey, making a film for Sundance TV Channel on his return.

Follow the team live at www.capefarewell.com

Daily blogs, photographs and video – will be posted on the website as the journey unfolds.  All blogs, images and videos will be available via RSS feeds.

PARTICPATING ARTISTS

Musicians: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Laurie Anderson, Vanessa Carlton, Jarvis Cocker, Feist, Robyn Hitchcock, KT Tunstall, Martha Wainwright, Luke Bullen, Beatboxer Shlomo

Composer Jonathan Dove / Comedian Marcus Brigstocke / Theatre Makers Mojisola Adebayo and Suzan-Lori Parks / Artists, Kathy Barber, David Buckland, Sophie Calle, Jude Kelly, Michèle Noach, Tracey Rowledge, Julian Stair, Chris Wainwright / Architects Francesca Galeazzi and Sunand Prasad / Poet Lemn Sissay / Photographer Nathan Gallagher / BBC presenter Quentin Cooper / Activist David Noble / Film Director Peter Gilbert