what is missing? Favorite 

Practitioner: 

Date: 

Jan 1 2009

Location: 

Los Angeles California, Virtual

“What Is Missing?” is a multi-sited memorial created by Maya Lin to raise awareness through science-based artworks about the present sixth mass extinction of species, connect this loss of species to habitat degradation and loss, and emphasize that by protecting and restoring habitat, we can both reduce carbon emissions and protect species.

Click on the dots and symbols in each of the subjects at the bottom of the screen to watch videos, read stories, and view timelines. Click again on the round photographs to read more about specific topics. You can contribute to the website by clicking the pencil in the upper right corner. Share a personal memory to map a disappearance you have witnessed, or share hopeful stories of ecological conservation and restoration.

External sources: 

https://www.olana.org/exhibitions/what-is-missing/
https://www.whatismissing.org/
Posted by vanessaw_ on Mar 24 2024

Staff rating: 

0

Effectiveness

How does this project help?

Amplifies (issue or campaign)Brings public and political attention to an issue or campaign.  Can include prefigurative action, making the invisible visible.
Activates (people)Energizes and organizes people into action. Can include emotion work
Strengthens (community)Strengthens, builds and celebrates community through ritual and/or symbol.
Provides (a useful service)Provides a useful social service.
Sustains (change)Support and celebrate change that has already been won and needs to be sustained.

Timeframe For change

This project seems to be part of a campaign with a clear long-term goal. Long-term goals tend to be things like: end racism; end homophobia; make the sun stand still in the sky. A campaign with a long-term goal also needs to have some kind of theory of change.
Maya Lin's artwork "What is Missing?" serves as a powerful environmental call to action, focusing on raising awareness about the crisis of biodiversity loss. Its long-term goal is to create a greater understanding and appreciation for the earth's diminishing natural landscapes and species, encouraging collective action towards conservation and restoration. Through an interactive and evolving multi-platform project, Lin aims to inspire a sense of responsibility and provoke thoughtful engagement in addressing environmental issues, emphasizing not just what has been lost but also how to prevent further loss and restore ecological balance.

Notes

Public Engagement: The project utilizes an innovative approach to engage the public, employing a combination of art, technology, and science to communicate the urgency of biodiversity and habitat loss. By making the information accessible online and through installations, it has the potential to reach a wide audience, sparking interest and concern among those who may not be traditionally involved in environmental activism. Educational Impact: "What is Missing?" serves as a potent educational tool. It provides viewers with a vivid portrayal of the consequences of human activity on the planet's biodiversity. By highlighting specific examples of lost or endangered species and habitats, it makes the abstract concept of extinction more tangible and immediate, potentially inspiring a deeper understanding of and commitment to environmental stewardship among its audience.