Art and Technology may seem like two parallel lines with no common ground. However, the intersection of artistic inspiration and technological breakthroughs has contributed to solving social issues related to sustainable development, offering significant benefits for education, the environment, and social equity.

Current “Hot” Issues Related to Sustainable Development

The modern world faces significant challenges. According to the United Nations report, about 9% of the global population—approximately 690 million people—were still suffering from hunger in 2019. Additionally, air pollution causes 7 million deaths annually. Other challenges, such as injustice and climate change, are also increasingly impacting society. Given this situation, many ask: “How can we save ourselves?”

In response to this question, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become a guiding light for “saving ourselves.” Established in 2015, the SDGs comprise 17 global goals aimed at addressing these issues. As of 2023, according to UN data, only 55% of the goals have made significant progress, while 30% remain stagnant, and 15% lack sufficient data (Source: SDG Report 2023).

Specifically, issues related to people—such as hunger, poverty, health, and education—are facing numerous difficulties. Vietnam, one of the 14 members of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, has committed to “leaving no one behind.” The Vietnamese government and the United Nations have categorized the SDG goals into four major groups: People, Environment, Prosperity, and Peace, to implement effective strategies.

This year, 2023, marks the halfway point of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed upon in 2015 and set to be achieved by 2030. Recent independent scientific assessments appointed by the UN confirm that with the current progress rate, achieving the 17 SDGs on schedule will be challenging. Naturally, we cannot simply sit back and hope for a brighter future without actively pushing for their implementation (Source: Shirin et al., 2023).

At the current rate of progress, global hunger and poverty will persist, and universal education will face difficulties (compared to the goal of achieving education for all by 2030). It is predicted that by the end of this decade, the world will have 575 million people living in poverty, 600 million people suffering from malnutrition, and 84 million children and youth without access to formal education. The global average temperature is expected to rise beyond 1.5°C compared to the acceptable increase set by the Paris Agreement on Climate Change (2015). Finally, with the current progress, it will take another 300 years to reach gender equity goals.

Global leaders are being called to act now to remove barriers and accelerate progress. In response to this challenge, ArtTech Hub at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and the annual ArtTech Fusion event series have been created with the mission of creatively addressing social sustainability issues through the intersection of art and technology. These initiatives aim to tackle the complex challenges of our time and contribute to building a sustainable future.

Students at UEH and ArtTech Experience at Campus A

 ArtTech – Creative Solutions for Sustainable Development

 ArtTech is a rapidly growing field in the digital age. By blending art and technology, ArtTech plays a crucial role in creatively addressing social issues related to sustainability. Art has the ability to express the nuanced and complex aspects of life and the environment. Through this medium, artists can convey powerful messages and raise awareness about sustainability issues such as climate change, wildlife protection, and resource conservation. The intersection of art and technology fosters creativity and innovation, encouraging the development of new products, services, and solutions that address sustainability challenges. For example, virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) applications can immerse users in simulated environments to deepen their understanding of environmental and social issues. Additionally, creative integration of art and technology can create interactive social events, exhibitions, and experiences that raise awareness and inspire community action toward sustainable development.

 

ArtTech and Sustainable Education

One of the areas where ArtTech has a positive impact is in education about sustainability. Artistic mediums, such as images, videos, music, and interactive creations, can enhance learning experiences. This approach can help students absorb information more effectively and motivate them to engage with sustainability topics. Moreover, VR technology and simulations can transport students into virtual environments, offering deeper insights into environmental and social issues by experiencing the impacts of climate change or exploring different ecosystems. This can promote positive action and inspire students to participate in sustainability efforts.

 

ArtTech and the Environment, Climate Change

ArtTech has significant potential to contribute to addressing environmental and climate change issues by combining art and technology to create innovative and inspiring solutions. Artistic experiences, digital artworks, and interactive projects can evoke emotions and drive positive actions related to environmental and climate change issues. Furthermore, ArtTech can offer interactive experiences to help users better understand environmental and climate change concepts. Through VR applications or educational games, people can experience the effects of climate change and its impact on the environment. This helps increase awareness of environmental protection and encourages creativity in tackling pollution and climate change.

 

ArtTech and Social Inequality

ArtTech also has great potential in addressing social inequality issues. By integrating art and technology, ArtTech can create innovative solutions and unique approaches to various aspects of inequality. ArtTech can produce artworks, digital creations, and interactive experiences that inspire and raise awareness about inequality issues, such as gender, racial, and class inequalities. Additionally, interactive experiences and VR applications help users gain a deeper understanding of the facets of inequality. This can foster empathy and compassion and promote positive social action.

“Our future society must not only rely on technological advancement but also on the harmony, intersection, and unity between humans, machines, and nature. This demands that future generations master and harness technology as a development driver and use art to nurture the values of the soul, thereby advancing sustainable development,” shared Mr. Suh Jun Suk, Director of the Ulsan Museum of Art, South Korea.

 In conclusion, with its continuously growing potential, ArtTech has been and continues to contribute to the positive development and transformation of society concerning sustainability issues such as education, environment, and social inequality. By leveraging boundless creativity, ArtTech helps inspire efforts to address environmental and climate change challenges, creating breakthrough solutions for building a fairer society and a more sustainable future.

ArtTech Fusion 2023 (ATF) will take place from October 13th to 15th, 2023, at UEH’s campuses A, B, and V. ArtTech Fusion 2023 will feature 16 exhibitions, 5 seminars, and 1 interactive performance. The event aims to utilize ArtTech as a tool to address urban and industrial challenges through education and research, contributing to the improvement of life quality. Additionally, it will serve as a platform to foster innovation and inspire artistic creativity with a focus on sustainable action.

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City – School of Media Design

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References: 

1. Shirin et al., (2023). What scientists need to do to accelerate progress on the SDGs.
Quoted from: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02808-x (Recent Access: 02/10/2023).

2. Báo cáo phát triển bền vững Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2023.
Quoted from: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2023/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2023.pdf.