Environment

Video: Bloomberg Philanthropies Presents Ice Watch Paris

Dec 2, 2015 8:40 AM ET
Campaign: Bloomberg: Philanthropy & Engagement

This Thursday, acclaimed visual artist Olafur Eliasson and distinguished geologist Minik Rosing will unveil a large-scale public art work in Paris around the UN Climate Summit (COP21). Eighty tons of glacier ice, harvested from Nuuk, Greenland, will be on public display at Place du Pantheon to illustrate the effects of climate change on the planet. The project is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and realized in collaboration with creative sustainability charity, Julie’s Bicycle.

“Ice Watch is a great example of how public art can draw attention to big challenges and spur people to action,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg LP, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and three-term Mayor of New York City. Michael Bloomberg also serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change and is co-hosting the Climate Summit for Local Leaders with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo at Paris City Hall on December 4.

 

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Olafur Eliasson: Well-known for his 2003 installation The weather project, at Tate Modern London, which was seen by over two million visitors, and for Contact, his recent exhibition at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson’s work spans from photography and film to sculpture, installation, and architecture. Established in 1995, his Berlin studio today numbers about 90 craftsmen, architects, and art historians.

Minik Thorleif Rosing: Professor of geology at the Natural History Museum of Denmark at the Copenhagen University, he has participated in the geological exploration of Greenland and is world famous for having backdated the origin of life on Earth by several hundred million years.

Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies’ mission is to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: public health, environment, education, government innovation and the arts. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2014, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $462 million, and it has a history of supporting creative and innovative public art. In 2014 alone, Bloomberg Philanthropies supported artist Tobias Rehberger’s Dazzle Ship in London as part of 14-18 NOW, WW1 Centenary Art Commissions, and the Liverpool Biennial; We the People, Danh Vo’s multi-site exhibition in New York City, organised by Public Art Fund; and Doug and Mike Starn’s Big Bambú installation in Jerusalem. This year it launched the Public Art Challenge, encouraging temporary public works of art in cities across the U.S. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow @BloombergDotOrg on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter: @BloombergDotOrg.

Julie’s Bicycle: Julie’s Bicycle is a London based global charity bridging the gap between environmental sustainability and the creative industries. Founded in 2007, its vision is a progressive, efficient and sustainable creative community. It works with over 1,000 arts organisations across the UK and internationally to measure, manage and reduce environmental impacts. Over the past two years, the charity has helped the arts save 16,784 tons of C02 emissions, equivalent to over £3 million. For more information go to juliesbicycle.com.