Part of Mechanical Botanics curated by Grace Kingston, 2019
Tessa Rex, SHELL (still) = HELL, 2019, HDV, 8min + algae, grow light
A decade ago Shell faced charges of ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ in The Hague for their role in the execution of Nigerian activists the Ogoni Nine, part of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). Despite decades of environmental destruction and human rights violations worldwide, Shell has undergone a remarkable PR refresh – to the point where their ‘clean energy’ ads played on New York Times podcasts. Pivotal to their greenwash makeover was a rogue youtube channel and a now-divested algae plant in Hawaii.