Thijs Biesteker
Memories of the Melted is a real-time generative artwork based on glacier science, built from more than 130,000 data points tracing the past, present and possible futures of the Rhône Glacier. The piece is currently presented at Efímera, where visitors can experience this dynamic visualisation of climate change.
Developed using datasets guided by glaciologists Heïdi Sevestre and Matthias Huss, the project translates mass balance records, ice thickness and bedrock maps, elevation data and long-term climate scenarios into a visual system that shows how the glacier has changed since 1800 and how it may evolve until 2100 under different climate pathways.
Created by artist Thijs Biersteker and commissioned by the Villars Institute, the work transforms complex climate data into an immersive experience that connects scientific evidence with the decisions that will shape the glacier’s future. The visual system updates automatically whenever new datasets are incorporated, reflecting the dynamic nature of glaciers. Its design combines scientific precision with an aesthetic language inspired by the delicacy of Gongbi painting.
Thijs Biersteker is an eco-artist working at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Through immersive, data-driven installations, he translates complex environmental research into accessible and sensory experiences.
His practice is developed in close collaboration with scientists and international institutions such as UNESCO, the World Health Organization, and the World Economic Forum, exploring new ways of communicating the climate crisis.
He is the founder of Woven, a platform that connects art and science with the aim of making environmental challenges more understandable and tangible. His work has been presented at institutions such as the Fondation Cartier, the Barbican Centre, and the Stedelijk Museum, as well as in global contexts including the United Nations and COP.
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