Eric Corriel Studios

multidisciplinary art studio • immersive and interactive public art • art activism • digital/electronic art • nyc

Glaciers Will Not Be There

Interactive video installation, 2017

Close-up photograph of the back of a gallery-goer's head as they look at a projected image of a large glacier calving in front of them
Photo credit: Courtesy of the artist

Glaciers Will Not Be There is an interactive video installation that links the melting of glaciers to human activity Shown at Raw Haus, Manhattan, New York; Cultvist Gala, Manhattan, New York; Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Manhattan, New York; St. Francis College, Brooklyn, New York

Glaciers Will Not Be There

Manhattan, 2017

A viewer smiles at the camera as she walks in front of a video projection of a collapsing glacier

This piece debuted in July of 2017, the same month that a Delaware-sized iceberg split from Antarctica. It is widely accepted that human activity has greatly contributed to climate change and the corresponding accelerated rate at which glaciers are collapsing.

The mechanism behind the work is simple: viewers pass by the video installation and glaciers collapse, whether they realize their actions caused it or not.

Beta test at Raw Haus

Conceived of in 2014, Glaciers Will Not Be There took over three years to realize. In 2015 the artist took part in the Arctic Circle residency program, which is designed for artists needing to work in the far north.

Photograph of an arctic landscape: cold gray sky, snow-covered mountains in the far background, a 20-30 meter high glacier in the near-background, and a old-timey sail ship anchored in calm waters on the left of the frame.
The ship upon which the artist sailed around the Arctic

The footage combines found video from YouTube and footage the artist recorded in the Arctic. Fellow resident Ayo Yunyu Shih graciously lent his audio recordings of the Arctic to this project.

Close-up photograph of the profile of a gallery-goer's head, illuminated by a projection, in the foreground. In the background is a soft, white, projected image of a large glacier calving.

Manhattan, 2018

In 2018, Glaciers Will Not Be There was shown twice in Manhattan— at The Cultivist’s annual gala (measuring 15' x 8') and, in coordination with the Human Impacts Institute, at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office’s New York office (TECO), which is home to Taiwanese ambassador to the United States. It was the first art installation shown in TECO’s windows in its 40-year history. The installation measured 8' x 6'.

Nighttime photograph of a city street—a street sign in the far background says 'Fifth Avenue.' On the left side is a passerby who has stopped and is looking at the projection of an arctic scene (glaciers) in the windows of the building on the right.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, photo by Ben Mistak
Close up nighttime photograph of the signage of the building in the previous photograph. The signage (a medium-sized gold plate) reads 'Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York.' Blurred in the background is a projection of glaciers in the building's storefront windows.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, photo by Ben Mistak
Very dark nighttime photograph of a silhouetted figure walking down the street looking at their phone. Behind him is a projected image of glaciers in a small storefront window.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, photo by Ben Mistak
Very similar to the previous image except instead of one person in front of the projected image, there are two, moving in opposite directions.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, photo by Ben Mistak
Closeup of the buiding's storefront windows showing a projected image of a large glacier collapsing into a body of water. The image is pixellated since it is so close-up.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, photo by Ben Mistak
Small thumbnail image of Nighttime photograph of a city street—a street sign in the far background says 'Fifth Avenue.' On the left side is a passerby who has stopped and is looking at the projection of an arctic scene (glaciers) in the windows of the building on the right.
Small thumbnail image of Close up nighttime photograph of the signage of the building in the previous photograph. The signage (a medium-sized gold plate) reads 'Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York.' Blurred in the background is a projection of glaciers in the building's storefront windows.
Small thumbnail image of Very dark nighttime photograph of a silhouetted figure walking down the street looking at their phone. Behind him is a projected image of glaciers in a small storefront window.
Small thumbnail image of Very similar to the previous image except instead of one person in front of the projected image, there are two, moving in opposite directions.
Small thumbnail image of Closeup of the buiding's storefront windows showing a projected image of a large glacier collapsing into a body of water. The image is pixellated since it is so close-up.
Extremely tall vertical photograph that encompasses approximately 15 stories of the facade of a beige apartment building. On street level, projected into the windows of the building's entrance, is an Arctic landscape with a large glacier in the middle of the frame.
Photo by Ben Mistak

Manhattan, 2018, Cultivist Gala

Photograph of four people in a dark gallery space. Only one is illuminated, who appears to be a blond-haired woman, very nicely done-up, and who is having her picture taken by someone else in the frame. She is illuminated by a projection of a glacier collapsing behind her. She is smiling.
Cultivist Gala, photo by Bryan M. Sargent
Slighly askew photograph of a women in cocktail attire, holding a cocktail, walking in front of a projection of a glacier collapsing
Cultivist Gala, photo by Bryan M. Sargent
Close-up photograph of a person's head, in 3/4 profile in the middle of the frame. She is pointing to the wall behind her, onto which is projected an image of a glacier collapsing. She appears to be saying something.
Cultivist Gala, photo by Bryan M. Sargent
Wide shot of the inside of a gallery showing two different projected works. On the left, an image of a body of water is projected into the gallery windows. Straight back, an image of an Arctic scene—close up of a glacier—is projected. There are about a dozen people in cocktail attire milling about. On the right, a two sharply bright lights are emanating from the lens of large projectors.
Cultivist Gala, photo by Bryan M. Sargent
Nearly full-body photograph of a gallery-goer's back as he looks at a large wall with an image of a large glacier on it. He is holding a yellow brochure of sorts in his left hand. A few other non-descript people are also in the frame.
Cultivist Gala, photo by Bryan M. Sargent
Small thumbnail image of Photograph of four people in a dark gallery space. Only one is illuminated, who appears to be a blond-haired woman, very nicely done-up, and who is having her picture taken by someone else in the frame. She is illuminated by a projection of a glacier collapsing behind her. She is smiling.
Small thumbnail image of Slighly askew photograph of a women in cocktail attire, holding a cocktail, walking in front of a projection of a glacier collapsing
Small thumbnail image of Close-up photograph of a person's head, in 3/4 profile in the middle of the frame. She is pointing to the wall behind her, onto which is projected an image of a glacier collapsing. She appears to be saying something.
Small thumbnail image of Wide shot of the inside of a gallery showing two different projected works. On the left, an image of a body of water is projected into the gallery windows. Straight back, an image of an Arctic scene—close up of a glacier—is projected. There are about a dozen people in cocktail attire milling about. On the right, a two sharply bright lights are emanating from the lens of large projectors.
Small thumbnail image of Nearly full-body photograph of a gallery-goer's back as he looks at a large wall with an image of a large glacier on it. He is holding a yellow brochure of sorts in his left hand. A few other non-descript people are also in the frame.

Glaciers Will Not Be There was shown in conjunction with Water Will Be Here for the first time at The Cultvist’s annual gala event in 2018.

In 2019 Glaciers Will Not Be There was shown at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY as part of the group show, Environmental Empathies.

The artist would like to thank Ayo Yunyu Shih for the kind use of his sound recordings, as well as these YouTube users and their videos:

Panoramic photograph one of five that forms the leftmost side of an Arctic landscape. In the foreground is a steel gray body of water. In the middle of the frame is a tiny ice-island that looks like it probably calved off a glacier. In the background is a 20-meter-ish high glacier with snow-capped mountains behind it.
A glacier in the Lilliehöökbreen glacier complex in the Arctic
Panoramic photograph two of five: the ice island has shifted to be almost out of frame on the left. Glacier in the background and snow-covered mountains behind it.
A glacier in the Lilliehöökbreen glacier complex in the Arctic
Panoramic photograph three of five: not much has changed, honestly. The camera continues its pan to the right, revealing more of the same glacier and snow-covered mountains.
A glacier in the Lilliehöökbreen glacier complex in the Arctic
Panoramic photograph four of five: same old same old. Camera continues to pan to the right revealing more of the same glacier and snow-capped mountains
A glacier in the Lilliehöökbreen glacier complex in the Arctic
Panoramic photograph five of five: it feels like this image could go on forever. Same glacier and snow-capped mountains, just more of them.
A glacier in the Lilliehöökbreen glacier complex in the Arctic
Small thumbnail image of Panoramic photograph one of five that forms the leftmost side of an Arctic landscape. In the foreground is a steel gray body of water. In the middle of the frame is a tiny ice-island that looks like it probably calved off a glacier. In the background is a 20-meter-ish high glacier with snow-capped mountains behind it.
Small thumbnail image of Panoramic photograph two of five: the ice island has shifted to be almost out of frame on the left. Glacier in the background and snow-covered mountains behind it.
Small thumbnail image of Panoramic photograph three of five: not much has changed, honestly. The camera continues its pan to the right, revealing more of the same glacier and snow-covered mountains.
Small thumbnail image of Panoramic photograph four of five: same old same old. Camera continues to pan to the right revealing more of the same glacier and snow-capped mountains
Small thumbnail image of Panoramic photograph five of five: it feels like this image could go on forever. Same glacier and snow-capped mountains, just more of them.

Glaciers Will Not Be There is a fiscally sponsored project of the New York Foundation for the Arts.

More Glaciers Will Not Be There: