THE AGONY: Collapse and The Artist (Part 1)

Contemporary artists Zina Saro-Wiwa and Ayana Evans present the first in a series of intimate, personal and irreverent explorations about the place of contemporary artists in a time of societal collapse. How does it feel as artists to keep making work and participating in collapsing economic, cultural and political systems? Does our art matter in a time of collapse? Can art save society? If so in what way? Can art only save the artist? Is that enough? Can we entrust artists with the rebuilding of a new world? Or are we ineffectual as real world changemakers? Recorded in two parts, the first conversation took place in May 2025 and the second conversation in January 2026. Each conversation and episode reflect a rapidly changing world from the highly personal perspective of two artists, one in the USA and the other in Nigeria. Another collapse episode is planned for later in the year. To learn more about Zina and Ayana please visit: www.ayanaevans.com www.zinasarowiwa.com www.mangroveartsfoundation.com https://soundofsira.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-the-end-of-the-world www.theagonypodcast.com