It all started with a vision. Andrew Funk believed it would be incredibly valuable to their cause to have three-dimensional artwork that could represent Homeless Entrepreneur and serve as a permanent stand-in for the millions of people made of potential experiencing homelessness around the world.
He was looking for a sculptor who could capture the essence of the work they do. He heard I had been involved in COP25 in Madrid and COP28 in Dubai with Dam de Nogales sculptors, as well as in many social and environmental art projects, so he reached out to me. I was immediately drawn to the opportunity to help raise awareness about such a critical issue. Thus, we embarked on a three-year journey that began with sketches in Dublin and going back and forth with Andrew so I could fully grasp the most important aspects of what Homeless Entrepreneur truly means.
I remember spending hours sketching on papers scattered everywhere in a coffee shop in Dublin. An older man noticed what I was doing, saw the concept, and said, "You should present this to our mayor. This is a big problem here." At that moment, I knew I was on the right track.
After sharing the sketches with Andrew, I raced to sculpt a small version that he could take to Davos. We didn't have much time, but I managed to create a small maquette for him to carry to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2022. He walked the streets of Davos with the fragile sculpture in hand, enduring unforgiving temperatures and sleeping out in the cold with Homeless Entrepreneur team members. They had been carrying out The Great Sleepout at the WEF since 2018, but this time The UnforeSeen Variable brought fresh interest to their mission. It helped attract attention and initiate meaningful conversations with WEF stakeholders.
The following year, I accompanied Andrew and the team with a more developed bronze maquette, and we had the opportunity to present our project to Mayor Philip Wilhelm and Kulturhaus. Our hope was to install a life-size version of the sculpture in Davos as a reminder to the world's nations to listen to and consider the voice of millions of people living in precarious circumstances when making decisions that affect them directly.
We managed to generate significant interest in the project, and for WEF 2025, we have been granted a physical space to present the final version in bronze as part of Climate Hub Davos. We are immensely grateful for this opportunity.
While completely open to interpretation, the sculpture depicts a person who has lost everything, symbolized by the empty space at the core of the piece where the vital organs should be. Being homeless is not just about losing a roof over your head—it means losing the sense of home, often being left without family or friends to rely on, and hanging on to one’s sanity in survival mode. However, it was crucial that The UnforeSeen Variable sculpture did not depict resignation. Instead, it represents a person seeking a way out, full of hope, and willing to accept help and be empowered. That's why the figure wears a collar and tie, suggesting the potential to become an active member of society if given the right support.
As a team working with Climate Hub Davos, we firmly believe that art is one of the most powerful catalysts for change. Art is a unique form of communication—an international language that transcends cultural barriers. While natural resources are finite, as we are increasingly realizing and suffering the consequences, human creativity is boundless and invites unlimited reflection and possibilities.
As climate change exacerbates the crisis of homelessness, displacing more and more people from their homes due to rising temperatures or extreme weather events—often rendering them homeless overnight, as recently happened in Valencia, Spain—it becomes increasingly urgent to unite forces in multidisciplinary collaborations. Only through innovative approaches can we reach people's hearts and minds, and inspire meaningful action.