ANCESTRAL BODIES
In collaboration with NVE - Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate.
Ancestral Bodies invites us into the realm of glacial life of the Anthropocene epoch. An expansive exhibition that unveils the sublime morphogenetic processes; formed by the interplay of phase changes and tectonic shifts - where the impact of human activity has been the dominant influence on the Earth's geology and ecosystems.
Deciphering the emergence of the deepest layers of the world’s glacial ice, has become the focus for Lorenzo Poli, an award-winning Italian photographer and former architect at Foster+Partners. Poli's multidisciplinary research delves into glaciological science, while engaging with experiential modes, from the visual to the spiritual, he seeks to fathom matter's infinite states.
The investigation is a collaboration with the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) and art curator Samia Ashraf. Over long campaigns in 2021 and 2022, Poli embarks in solo expeditions in remote regions of Norway, traversing deglaciated lands and kayaking through ice-melt lakes to reach the glacial limbs.
By harnessing the digital potential of hand-held and aerial captures, a spectrum of ethereal perspectives of geodesic time and cosmic particles emerges, as ice cyclically transitions from solid to liquid to sublime. Imbued with the history of the Earth, the Land morphs into a canvas of the divine, with hues nuanced by time. Glacial bodies lay bare the cosmic rhythm of the solar system synchronicity, and echoes the unwavering serenity of Gandhi's Satyagraha, while resonating with the power of self-transformation that lies within each of us.
Amidst the sanctuary of a vanishing wilderness, a renewed kinship with the natural world is nurtured. A profound ecological shift beckons for biocentric equality and harmonious reconciliation, as envisioned by the philosopher Arne Naess. In response to the Anthropocene, Ancestral Bodies becomes a testament to the inexhaustible power and boundless magnanimity of Nature.
