How Art is Used to Raise Social Awareness

This paper explores how visual and interactive art is used to raise awareness about significant social issues, focusing particularly on male mental health and homelessness in the United Kingdom. It highlights the work of two primary artists—Mark Jenkins and Luke Jerram—whose public installations have gained international attention and helped catalyze social dialogue. Their collaborations with organizations like The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and 1625 Independent People (1625ip) demonstrate how art can bridge emotional and informational gaps in advocacy.

Jenkins’ powerful Project 84, which placed 84 life-sized sculptures on London rooftops to represent the weekly average of male suicides, created a global media stir. Similarly, Jerram’s Invisible Homeless glass sculptures served to illuminate the fragility and neglect experienced by young people living in hidden homelessness. Additional public works like Jerram’s Play Me, I’m Yours, Park and Slide, and Museum of the Moon further exemplify how immersive art can reclaim public spaces and provoke reflection.

The paper also references contributions from other artists and performers, such as musician Tom Robinson and an all-male dance group, who collaborated with CALM to extend its reach. While not analyzed in depth, their involvement reinforces the broader claim that art—across disciplines—has a unique power to drive social awareness and action.

In conclusion, the study argues that art is not just a form of expression, but also a powerful tool for social engagement and change, with the ability to spotlight issues that are otherwise overlooked.