In conjunction with the COP28 Climate Conference in Dubai, Art of Change 21 and Alserkal Initiatives proudly present “Melting Point,” an exhibition by the French-Swiss artist Julian Charrière. Running from November 30, 2023, to January 6, 2024, at Alserkal Avenue, this climate-focused exhibition sheds light on seldom-seen perspectives of the Earth’s polar regions.
Julian Charrière, a renowned climate-engaged artist, collaborates with Art of Change 21, a non-profit organisation dedicated to art and the environment, and Alserkal Initiatives, a socially responsible cultural enterprise based in Dubai. The exhibition is part of Art of Change 21’s “Art at COP28” programming, supported by R3, Maison Ruinart, Fondation LAccolade, and Epson.
As COP28 addresses the urgent need for global climate action, “Melting Point” serves as a vital contribution. The exhibition brings attention to the impact of climate change on polar regions, crucial for Earth’s climate and sea level stability. Charrière’s cinematic journey, featuring works like “Towards No Earthly Pole” and “Pure Waste,” explores the repercussions of large-scale natural resource extraction, prompting viewers to consider the losses incurred due to accelerated global warming.
“Towards No Earthly Pole,” born from Charrière’s experience aboard a research ship during the Antarctic Biennial, presents mesmerising glacial landscapes, challenging our perceptions of these regions. In contrast, “Pure Waste,” a video project from North Greenland, delves into a material reversal process, transforming carbon molecules from the ice cap and human exhalations into lab-grown diamonds. The diamonds are then thrown into a glacier mill, symbolising hope for the end of destructive industrial cycles.
“Melting Point” extends beyond traditional exhibition boundaries, offering a profound exploration of the cryosphere and our relationship with it. An educational service accompanies the exhibition, providing visitors with valuable information on the poles, climate, and actionable climate initiatives.
In an effort to align with the exhibition’s message, the collaborative partners are working to reduce its environmental impact. Actions include electronic transport of works, minimal air travel, local equipment usage, a vegetarian menu, and an extended exhibition duration. Supported by environmentally conscious entities such as R3, Maison Ruinart, Fondation LAccolade, and Epson, “Melting Point” embodies a powerful convergence of art, environmental consciousness, and the pursuit of a sustainable future.
About Julian Charriére
Julian Charrière, a French-Swiss artist based in Berlin, navigates diverse mediums—performance, sculpture, film, and photography—stemming from fieldwork in remote and transformative locations. From industrial sites to volcanic calderas, icefields to nuclear testing grounds, his work speculates on alternative histories and challenges perceptions of “nature.” Engaging in cross-disciplinary collaborations with scientists, musicians, and philosophers, Charrière deconstructs cultural traditions that shape our understanding of the natural world. Recent monographic exhibitions include SFMOMA, San Francisco (2022), Langen Foundation, Neuss, Germany (2022), and Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas (2021). Represented by galleries Dittrich & Schlechtriem, Galerie Tschudi, Sies + Höke, Sean Kelly Gallery, and Perrotin, Charrière’s work features prominently in international Biennales, including the Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale (2022), Guangzhou Image Triennial (2021), and the 57th Biennale di Venezia (2017).
Location: Alserkal Avenue
Dates: 30 November 2023 – 6 January 2024