The ever-changing climate caused the icebergs to melt along with the works of art. The artist now raises awareness on climate change issues thereby focusing on the cultural aspects of adaptation of local communities. Verheggen already embarked on a new project entitled ‘SunGlacier’. The artist plans to create ice and build a glacier in the desert.

Glacier in the sun

To contradictory or counterintuitive belief, this sculpture is going to freeze when it is placed in the sun. The more sunlight it catches, the more ice it will produce. "SunGlacier will demonstrate that with current technology much can be achieved in response to emerging and urgent threats. I would like to jumpstart a creative way of thinking about adaptation to climate change and explore the boundaries of science and technology and realise the seemingly impossible," Verheggen said.

UNESCO-IHE Cultural Ambassadors Programme

The United Nations has a tradition of enlisting the volunteer services and support of prominent individuals from the worlds of art, sports, literature and entertainment to highlight priority issues and to draw attention to its activities. UNESCO-IHE appoints individuals who possess widely recognised talent in the arts, sciences, literature, entertainment, sport or other fields of public life the title of Cultural Ambassador. They demonstrate a strong desire to help mobilise public interest in, and support for, the purposes and principles of UNESCO-IHE, and the United Nations at large. These individuals demonstrate the commitment and proven potential to raise awareness of the aims, objectives and priorities as outlined in the vision and mission of the organization thereby extending its public outreach.

More information

See the artist's website for more information on the SunGlacier and cool(E)motion project.

News coverage

23 March 2011 - Press agency Reuters News Story
25 March 2011 - Newsland Russian TV