Albedo

2023, installation - performance, 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 artistic project that transforms the glacier, often perceived as a distant and abstract reality, into a tangible symbol of collective stewardship. Through a shared experience, the work invites the audience to reflect on the urgency of the climate crisis and on each individual’s responsibility to protect this fragile ecosystem.

The title is inspired by the scientific phenomenon of albedo, which describes the ability of light-colored surfaces, such as snow and ice, to reflect sunlight and help cool the planet.

At the center of the project is a double-sided mantle made from an innovative fabric derived from orange peels. The white side evokes the purity of glaciers and their crucial role in regulating the climate; the grey-blue side recalls cryoconite, the dark mixture of dust and particles that, when deposited on ice, accelerates its melting.

The performance unfolds through a simple yet symbolic gesture: the audience is invited to wear the mantle and pass it to another person, forming a chain that connects each participant to the planet’s fate. By wearing it, everyone symbolically becomes a guardian of the glacier, reflecting on their own commitment to climate protection. If the mantle stops being passed on and falls to the ground, the work marks a moment of collective failure—a powerful reminder of the fragility of the current situation and of the urgency to act before consequences become irreversible.

A distinctive element of Albedo is the careful selection of the locations where it is installed, chosen for their direct connection to the effects of climate change. The first site is Valgrisenche: here, as elsewhere, the landscape is not merely a backdrop but a living protagonist that amplifies the work's meaning. The interaction between the audience and the surrounding environment allows the vulnerability of these ecosystems to be perceived directly, transforming each gesture into an act of awareness and deep connection with the natural world.