Brian Campbell
Bio
Brian Campbell is a painter, printmaker who has lived in Gisborne since the 1980's' initially attracted by the plentiful surf on the East Coast.
He uses satire, fantasy and humour in his images to tackle issues from conspiracy theory to climate change.
Description
A How-To for Climate Deniers
Protect (at all costs) the interests of corporations and billionaires;
Put short-term profits before future wellbeing;
Ignore all evidence that global warming is having big effects;
Dismiss decades of research (you know more than they do);
Deny . . . Deny . . . Deny.
SIGNED
B. C. Campbell
Contact - brianpetercampbell@yahoo.co.nz
Link to research
B. C. Campbell’s biting satirical piece, A How-To for Climate Deniers, echoes one of the strongest themes that came through in the research: frustration with inaction and denial in the face of overwhelming evidence. The report makes clear that whānau and hapū in Te Tairāwhiti are deeply aware of the changing climate and the systems that perpetuate harm. As one participant said:
“We see it, we live it, we feel it. But decision-makers still act like it’s not happening.”
Campbell flips this lived reality into a darkly humorous “instruction manual” for those who continue to prioritise corporate profits over community wellbeing. The repetition of “Deny… Deny… Deny” mirrors the way many locals described their experiences of being ignored by authorities and industry, despite decades of evidence and warnings.
As the report notes:
“There is a strong sense of being left to carry the burden of climate impacts, while others continue business as usual.”
This artwork acts as both a critique and a provocation—an invitation for audiences to reflect on how denial, dismissal, and delay are not abstract concepts but forces that shape everyday lives on the East Coast.
