Force Majeure: Wildfire and Wheat: Work by Adrien Segal

By: Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences

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Synopsis: From February 18 through July 15, 2020, Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences presented the exhibition Force Majeure: Wildfire and Wheat featuring artwork by artist Adrien Segal. This catalog documents the exhibition which featured Segal’s Wildfire Progression and Wheat Mandala series. The term force majeure translates to “superior force.” It also refers to a common clause used in contract law to account for extraordinary events such as a natural disaster, an “Act of God,” or any other unforeseeable circumstance that is a result of the elements of nature, as opposed to one caused by human activities such as war. In the 21st century, natural systems have been so drastically affected by human activity that wildfires, floods, and many other extraordinary events, previously identified as natural disasters, can no longer be so neatly categorized. With this exhibition, Segal explores the connections and blurring distinctions between the natural and human-caused forces that are changing global ecosystems. Based in Oakland, California, Segal works across disciplines and media, drawing upon history, narrative, emotion, and perception. Her artwork synthesizes information from scientific research attempting to bridge the deep disconnect between scientific rationality and the emotional nature of human experience. This catalog includes an essay by Juliana Biondo, Assistant Curator, World Bank Group Art Program.