Ice-Traffic

A sculptural event of ice and melt-water, moving image, sound and data. Visitors are invited to witness the gradual melting of a two tonne ice mass, to experience its powerful elemental presence and influence its changing physical state.

Ice-Traffic combines projected moving image displays, immersive soundscapes and scientific data to create a provocative multimedia environment. The scientific data includes temperature data recorded in England over the past 200 years as well as measurements detecting the turbulent movement of London’s urban wind. Using innovative computer coding, this scientific data is programmed to influence the moving images and soundscapes that cover and surround the ice mass. An imbalance within the data triggers disturbances in the visual displays and soundscapes, reflecting the unpredictable and dynamic nature of the climate system. Bombarded with light, images and the body-heat of the observers, the ice begins its slow and inevitable meltdown.

Ice-Traffic reflects the powerful elemental presence of natural phenomena and the vulnerable fragility of human beings. It invites the public to witness and question what is known, what can be calculated and what remains unpredictable, in an exchange space that links scientific data with artistic process in a mutual exploration of the natural world and urban environment.

Ice-Traffic is presented by The Breathing City, an art and science collaboration between an urban meteorologist, a sound-art composer, designers and a data programmer who seek to deepen understanding between disciplines, explore communication with a wider audience, extend boundaries and challenge assumptions around art and science collaboration.

Ice-Traffic is generously sponsored by IBM, Halcrow, QED, The Royal Society, and Met Office, with continued support from The University of Brighton, The University of Reading, and Lighthouse.