Melting Horizons
"Melting Horizons" is an immersive art installation designed to evoke the interconnectedness of transformation, ecology, and human labor, particularly focusing on the fishing industry and climate change. The centerpiece of the installation is a large block of ice suspended in the air by a rough fishing net, slowly melting and dripping water onto the floor below. The space is designed to draw spectators into a visceral experience, confronting them with the environmental impacts of human labor and the urgent transformation required to address ecological crises.
Elements
A. Hanging Ice Block
Size and Shape: A large, irregularly shaped block of ice, approximately 150-200 cm in height, suspended from the wall by a coarse fishing net made of natural fibers.
Suspension: The net is tied to industrial-grade ropes, giving the impression of a catch being hauled up from the depths of the sea. The net’s threads are frayed, symbolizing the vulnerability and strain on natural resources.
Melting Process: The ice block slowly melts over time, with water droplets falling from it at a steady pace. Embedded within the ice are small objects or materials related to marine life and fishing, such as fish bones, pieces of netting, and rusted hooks, gradually revealed as the ice melts.
B. Wet Floor
The floor beneath the ice block is a reflective surface, creating a mirror-like effect that catches the falling water and the reflections of spectators.
Water Accumulation, As the ice melts, water pools on the floor, gradually spreading outwards. The floor is slightly uneven, allowing the water to create small rivulets and puddles that move towards the edges of the room, symbolizing the flow of time and resources.
Spectators are encouraged to walk around the installation, with the understanding that the floor will become increasingly wet as the ice melts. Their presence and movement disturb the water, creating ripples and adding to the sense of change and transformation.
C. Sound Design
A subtle soundscape of dripping water, creaking ice, distant ocean waves, and occasional sounds of fishing activity (e.g., net pulling, boat engines) fills the space. The sound is both calming and eerie, evoking the harsh realities of life at sea and the gradual loss of natural habitats. The soundscape is designed to evolve as the ice melts, with the sound of water dripping becoming more pronounced, creating a growing tension that mirrors the urgent need for ecological change.
D. Lighting
The lighting is soft and dim, with focused beams on the ice block to highlight its presence and the water below. The lighting changes slowly over time, moving from cool blues and whites to warmer tones, symbolizing the transition from a frozen, stable environment to one that is warming and unstable. The reflective floor amplifies the light, creating an interplay of reflections and shadows that shift as the water spreads and spectators move, emphasizing the theme of transformation.
Conceptual Background:
Transformation: The melting ice represents the inevitable change and transformation of the environment due to human impact, particularly through activities like fishing that rely on natural resources.
Ecology: The installation comments on the fragility of marine ecosystems and the broader implications of climate change, with the melting ice symbolizing the loss of polar ice and the disruption of ecological balance.
Human Labor: The fishing net holding the ice symbolizes the human labor that extracts resources from the ocean, often leading to overexploitation and environmental degradation. As the ice melts, the net appears to struggle with the loss, reflecting the precariousness of relying on dwindling natural resources, and the future end of this occupation when the
"Melting Horizons" invites spectators to contemplate the intricate connections between human activity, ecological balance, and the forces of transformation. By placing them directly in the path of change—literally getting their feet wet—this installation challenges viewers to reflect on their role in the ongoing narrative of environmental stewardship and the need for urgent action to preserve our planet's future.
