Desirée Patterson

Cryosphere Studies

Part of an evolving body of work, this sculpture suspends two photographs depicting the Athabasca Glacier and Mount Andromeda (iconic features of the Columbia Icefield), within solid ice. Among the world’s most accessible glaciers, these landscapes have witnessed dramatic changes with millions of visitors observing their rapid retreat over the past century. In 2023, the Athabasca Glacier recorded its most significant melt in over a decade; a stark reminder of the escalating impacts of climate change and the pressing need for global action.
Encasing these images in solid ice the sculpture transforms into an ephemeral performance piece symbolizing the fragility of glacial environments. Throughout the exhibition, I actively manage the melting process, striving to slow the thaw while preserving structural integrity. This effort mirrors humanity’s ongoing struggle to mitigate the consequences of exceeding a 1.5 degree Celsius global temperature increase and reflects my own anxieties about the world’s deteriorating cryosphere.
As the ice melts the sculpture gradually dissolves, leaving behind a pool of water. As the photographic prints float within this liquid their surfaces slowly degrade into abstract forms, rendering the original landscapes increasingly unrecognizable. This transformation invites viewers to reflect on the impermanence of the natural world, the cyclical processes of nature, and the vital role glaciers play in sustaining life on our planet.

The next phase of this project will focus on collaboration with glaciologists, where I will integrate scientific methodologies such as ice-coring, remote sensing and geophysical surveying into my work. These insights, alongside photographic archives of topographic surveys, will inform my creative process providing a scientific foundation that allows me to create experiential installations amplifying the environmental transformations taking place within glaciers. In addition, I will collaborate with an electroacoustic composer to capture the acoustic properties of the glaciers we visit. This will involve recording the sounds of glacial melt, ice cracking, and environmental shifts; paralleling scientific methods using sound-waves to measure glaciers' mass, volume and structural change.

As part of the 2025 UN International Year of Glacier Preservation, this project seeks to foster deeper connections between the public and rapidly changing cryosphere. By amplifying the environmental crises through artistic exploration, I hope to cultivate awareness, appreciation and stewardship for glaciers, encouraging active participation in their preservation.

Scientific fieldwork for this project will begin in June 2025.