Yiyun Kang: The case for making art in a crisis

The case for making art in a crisis

We have more data than any generation in history, yet reality has never felt harder to grasp. Artist Yiyun Kang is on a mission to translate the invisible crises of our time — from vanishing fresh water and collapsing ecosystems to the black box of AI — into physical experiences that people can feel. Art isn’t a luxury, she says. It’s essential to understanding and acting on our biggest problems.

The world faces overwhelming problems like climate change, vanishing water, and the rise of artificial intelligence, yet the flood of data leaves most feeling disconnected and powerless. Artistic creativity can restore meaning by transforming abstract statistics, such as 20 years of satellite water data or the inner workings of 118 AI models, into immersive, physical experiences. Making the invisible visible is not just moving—it is essential for rekindling empathy and motivating real action. Art bridges the gap between knowledge and feeling, inviting people to engage with the world's most urgent challenges.

Art Makes the Unseen Crises of Our Era Impossible to Ignore

When facts and data leave people numb to today’s urgent threats, art can awaken both understanding and care. Transforming years of NASA water data into immersive landscapes, one project revealed how half of humanity may lack clean water by 2050. Artistic experiences bridge the gap between overwhelming information and personal meaning, making climate change and the rise of artificial intelligence tangible. By uniting art, science, and technology, new spaces open for empathy, agency, and hope.