Art x Science
Art meets Research → Sustainable Finance → by Alexander Wagner x Richard Ibghy + Marilou Lemmens
Art x Science currently presents the knitwear collection ⁿmesh, that emerged out of transdisciplinary dialogues between artists, designers and researchers. Each piece is designed in response to current research done at the @uzh to offer fresh perspectives on complex scientific issues.
Sustainable Finance → Art meets Research
What do investors look for when it comes to biodiversity?
This question is the subject of current research by Alexander Wagner, Professor of Finance at the Department of Finance at the University of Zurich.
The highly recognized study “Do investors care about biodiversity?” examines the relationship between companies' environmental impact, their communication on biodiversity, and stock prices.
The results were translated into a portable work of art by artists Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens: “Put your money in your mouth.”
"I never dreamed that our research would even appear on a cool T-shirt. The exchange with the artists was very enriching for me." -Alexander Wagner
Front: the phrase “Put your money in your mouth” is a poetic variation on the idiom “Put your money where your mouth is.” It encourages reflection on the gap between words and actions.
Back: a woven graphic based on research data. It shows two overlapping histograms: one for companies that mentioned biodiversity in earnings conferences, and one for those that did not. The overlap reveals that there is no clear correlation between a company's ecological footprint and its willingness to talk about biodiversity.
The interplay between financial research and contemporary art opens up new perspectives on corporate behavior, investor responsibility, and the urgency of sustainable action.
A different angle
“Art in the critical sense can, may, and wants to be more than just beautiful. It irritates, creates tension, stimulates reflection, and makes social realities visible. Especially when it comes to abstract and complex topics such as financial market research, art can open up new approaches and new perspectives. It can, for example, translate mathematical formulas into images, stories, and experiences that can inspire us all to 'think differently'.”
-Cornelia Kegele (Head of Communications, UZH Department of Finance)