This summer, Swiss-French artist Julian Charrière will transform Basel’s historic Globus department store with his innovative project “Calls for Action.” This groundbreaking exhibition connects visitors across vast distances, linking Switzerland’s mountainous regions with a Western Andean Cloud Forest in Ecuador. By inviting the public to become active participants and protectors of this vital ecosystem, Charrière emphasizes the importance of environmental stewardship and raises awareness about the critical role of rainforests as carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots.
“Calls for Action” is part of the “Globus Public Art Project,” a collaboration between the Fondation Beyeler and Globus during the department store’s three-year renovation. Charrière’s project stands out by integrating public art with land conservation, connecting his practice with environmental activism. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a large screen displaying a live feed from the Ecuadorian cloud forest, highlighting the interconnectivity of our planet and the environmental issues that threaten this endangered ecoregion.
The installation encourages communication and interaction, featuring a phone booth where visitors can listen to and speak with the distant ecosystem, proposing an encounter beyond mere spectatorship. By involving the public in fundraising for conservation efforts, “Calls for Action” promotes active participation in protecting this critical ecosystem. The conservation efforts are supported by Art into Acres, Re:wild, and the Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco, underscoring the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
Charrière’s project creates new planetary bonds, showing how our actions affect even the most remote places. “Calls for Action” reminds us that everything is interconnected and that our presence is felt globally. By speaking into the rainforest and hearing our voices within it, we are reminded of our role in the larger ecological system. This playful and critical intervention emphasizes that with intentional action and collective voices, we can support and restore ecosystems that might otherwise be lost. Join us in this powerful call to action, as we connect art, activism, and the public to protect our planet’s vital ecosystems.
