Melting Ice / A Hot Topic: Envisioning Change

For UN World Environment Day 2007, the Natural World Museum in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) produced an exhibition that addresses the theme of Climate Change from a global perspective - the melting and thawing of ice, snow and permafrost are environment-altering changes taking place around the world- from the Andes to the Himalayas to the melting ice caps of the Poles.

The contemporary art show features the works of 40 artists representing 26 countries. The thought-provoking exhibition includes photographs, paintings, sculpture, and video installations – all focusing on climate change, specifically melting ice caps and the effect that has on all living beings.

Pieces in the exhibition include David Buckland's video End of Ice, which uses time-lapse photography to record a melting iceberg as it shrinks and disappears. Free Range Video's Climate: A Crisis Averted looks back from 2056 to celebrate the actions of citizens in 2006, who recognized the need to take action.

The exhibit kicked off its tour in Oslo at the Nobel Peace Center during UN World Environment Day in June 2007, and then traveled to the BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels, where it was exhibited into January 2008. In February 2008, the exhibit show was exhibited as part of the official programming of the 10th Special Session of UNEP's Governing Council / Global Ministerial Environment Forum held in Monaco. His Serene Highness Prince Albert II participated in the exhibit opening and praised the Natural World Museum’s efforts in building awareness to our current climate change crisis. The world tour ends in Chicago at the Field Museum, where the exhibit remains through September 2008.

Melting Ice / A Hot Topic has been widely regarded among environmentalists and artists alike. The support from international communities and Chicago resulted in the exhibit directly reaching over one million people.

This exhibit was made possible through the generous support of our Global Title Sponsor Autodesk, Inc.

For more information, please view the Press Release: Brussels | Norway


 

Participating Artists:

Subhankar Banerjee – India, Robert Bateman – Canada, Alfio Bonano – Denmark, David Buckland – UK, Christo & Jeanne-Claude – US, Margaret Cogswell – US, Sebastian Copeland – France, Xavier Cortada – US, Siobhan Davies – UK, Era and Don Farnsworth – US, Free Range Studio – US, Helen and Newton Harrison – US, Mona Hatoum – Lebanon, David and Hi-Jin Hodge – US & Korea, Gary Hume – UK, Laura Horelli – Finland, The Icelandic Love Corporation – Iceland, Ichi Ikeda – Japan, Sveln Flygari Johansen – Norway, Chris Jordan – US, Kahn Selesnick – England, Sant Khalsa – US, Fred Ivar Ultsi Klemetsen – Norway, Angela Lergo – Spain, Jonas Liveröd – Sweden, Dalibar Martinis – Croatia, Jacob McKean – US, Gilles Mingasson – France, David Nash – Wales, Lucy + Jorge Orta – England & Argentina, Sven Påhlsson – Norway, Shana and Robert Parke-Harrison – US, Cecilia Paredes – Peru, Andrea Polli – US, Ana Prvacki – Singapore, Anne Senstad – Norway, HM Queen Sonya of Norway, David Trubridge - New Zealand, Strijdom van der Merwe – South Africa, Theo Wujcik – US, Yoshiaki Kaihatsu – Japan, Justin Young – US.