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Made By Humans, For Humans: Art For A Cause

“Art helps us identify with one another and expands our notion of we -- from the local to the global.” ~ Olafur Eliasson

Although art is created for many reasons, now more than ever, it is being used to raise awareness of several issues that unite us globally. From poverty to global warming to mental illness, artists are actively realizing the influence they have over society. Our team atMade By Humans have rounded up three of our favourite artists that are using their craft to ignite meaningful change. From raising money for charity to creating pieces that interact with communities, these artists are using their talent for the betterment of society.

One Heart One Tree: Blending the boundaries between nature and technology, Belgian artist Naziha Mestaoui’s “One Heart One Tree” projects virtual forests onto popular city spaces. By connecting a heartbeat sensor through their smartphones, viewers can also take part in this project, allowing each virtual tree to grow to the rhythm of their hearts. With the goal of reforesting the planet, this project offers a long-term social and environmental impact, as the digital trees are later physically planted throughout the world. To date, this project has sparked the growth of over 14,000 trees across Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, with 53,411 trees more to be planted.  

Jeff Hanson: At only 24 years old, Jeff is an award-winning philanthropic artist on a mission to change the world through art. Visually impaired since childhood from neurofibromatosis and an optic chiasm brain tumor, Jeff taught himself to paint when he was just 12 years old as a way to pass the time during chemotherapy. To date, he has donated more than $2.6 million to various charities, including Make-A-Wish, AIDS in Africa, and the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Jeff’s acrylic on canvas works employ bold colour and heavily sculpted texture to create an unmistakable signature style, “a sight for sore eyes,” as he calls it.

           
Favela Painting Foundation: Founded in 2005 by Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn, better know as Haas&Hahn, this Dutch artist duo focuses their creative efforts on urban transformation. Working in underserved communities, they mobilize and inspire locals to reinvent their own neighbourhood through extraordinary art projects on a massive scale. From transforming a former prison into a colourful home for refugees in Amsterdam to revitalizing a commercial strip in North Philadelphia, they people to unite and rise up against their current challenges. Well worth a listen, Haas&Hahn were invited to speak at the 2014 TED Global talk, where they discussed how painting can transform communities. You can find that talkhere.

     
               Amsterdam Painting                                              Philly Painting 

Source:Favela Painting Foundation 

What artist do you admire for their work in the community? Let us know in the comment section below or share some of their work with us by tagging us onInstagram orFacebook!

 

 

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