Albedo
2023
installation
100% pure Merino wool carpet; 62% cotton 38% orange fibre (obtained from the orange albedo) fabric; 49% cotton 36% recycled cotton 15% lyocell, natural dye with Haematoxylum campechianum, Mais Morado, Arthrospira platensis, Indigofera tinctoria, Clitoria ternatea
Albedo is an ode to the beauty and fragility of glaciers, a powerful call to safeguard these vital ecosystems. The very name of the work takes inspiration from the scientific concept that highlights the crucial ability of glaciers to reflect up to 80% of the sun's rays into the atmosphere, helping to combat global warming and keep the earth's temperatures stable.
Albedo's double-sided coat represents the duality of the glacier: on the one hand, the purity of the snow-white symbolises its unaltered resistance; on the other hand, the grey-blue hues indicate its progressive deterioration caused by the accumulation of debris, dust or algae. This visual duality reflects the glacier's change under the effect of human and environmental interference.
Creating a double-faced cape as an artistic form is intentional, offering a participatory experience that allows whoever wears it to become a temporary guardian of this 'glacier'. The passing of the cape from hand to hand perpetuates this symbolic responsibility, creating a chain of custody that emphasises the importance of protecting glaciers and reflecting on our impact on Arctic environments.
Through this concrete and tangible experience, Albedo aims to raise awareness of the importance of preserving glaciers as defenders against global warming and the urgency of considering our impact on Arctic ecosystems.
Most importantly, the fabric used for the cape is a material created using the orange peel albedo, known as Orange Fiber. This choice lends additional symbolic depth to the work and embodies a tangible commitment to environmental sustainability. The fabric was dyed by natural dyeing using five different plants (Haematoxylum campechianum, Mais Morado, Arthrospira platensis, Indigofera tinctoria and Clitoria ternatea).
Albedo will be installed in various locations vulnerable to climate change, directly threatened by rising sea levels caused by melting glaciers. Here, the public will be able to interact actively with the work, wearing it and becoming an integral part of its message.
