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Melting Men | The Art That Melts Away

12/10/2009 - 5:00 am By Diana Adams

Recently, artist Nele Azevedo carved 1,000 little men out of ice. She strategically placed these frozen figures on the steps in Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt Square. On the day she did this, the temperature was 73 F degrees (23 C) and the cold ice men started melting very quickly.

According to http://www.designboom.com, she did this to “bring awareness to the world wildlife fund’s warning, that melting ice could cause sea-levels to rise more than 3.3 ft by 2100.”

“What happens in the Arctic will have a direct impact on weather in wide parts of the planet. Sea level could rise by one meter this century alone, threatening that quarter of humanity living near coasts,” said Martin Hiller, head of climate change Campaign at WWF International.

Neve has been placing her “Melting Men” all over the world since 2005. Each little ice man is very simple in design, and looks a little bit sad. I think Nele is brilliant for being able to achieve such emotion using nothing but ice. Each time she sets up an installation like this, in 30-40 minutes it is all melted and gone. Nele says that she is not a climate change activist, she is first and foremost an artist.

Just think, with this type of art, there is no clean up afterwards! It self-dismantles and washes away.

More Articles By Diana Adams | Articles: 723

Author: Diana Adams

By day, Diana is the CEO/owner of Adams Consulting Group, Inc, a technology services and business solutions consultancy firm serving the specific needs of its clients in advertising and public relations. By night, she lives and breathes by writing. After publishing a small cookbook last year, she is now working on her new masterpiece, scheduled for publishing next year. “I could write all night long and not get tired of it. I think that is when you know you’ve tapped into a true passion. Whatever that thing may be, if you could do it all day or night long, lose track of time, ‘wake up’ ten hours later, and still thirst for more, that is a passion, and I feel like I’ve found that in my writing.” Diana also spends many hours each week assisting the homeless men and women in Atlanta. You can find her on Twitter at @adamsconsulting.


11 Comments

div

December 10th, 2009

Is it 2100 or 2010?

[Reply]

Diana Adams Reply:

Hi Div!!

Thank you again for all your very nice comments on all of our articles. We really appreciate that you come back and read our blog day after day. Thank you very very much for that.

Well, funny, I changed it to 2,010. Then, I went and checked the quote, and it is 2,100… so I changed it back. Haha!!

Diana

[Reply]

div Reply:

Thx Diana for your prompt reply…. I would like to thank Bitrebels & all the authors in person. You people really rock… I love the subjects and the content put in to them which is very very simple & straight forward. You ppl. make my day much more brighter….

Love U All………… Bitrebel Rockkkkkkkkkks….

[Reply]

Diana Adams Reply:

Love you right back babe. Big hugs to you.

Misty Belardo

December 10th, 2009

Oooh I so love the melting art.. That is what i love about passionate artists, they come up with the coolest way to show their creativity. Thank you for sharing :D Love it!!!!

[Reply]

Diana Adams Reply:

Thank you, Misty! I thought it was sooo cool too! I love it. Thank you for your comment!!

[Reply]

Murlu

December 10th, 2009

I love this.

The problem I have with art is that everyone wants to preserve it and analyze it instead of just experiencing it.

It’s like meme art. It’s here and then it’s gone.

[Reply]

Krystyn

December 11th, 2009

How does she carve those intricate legs? Some are even crossed! And knowing these works of art will melt at some point? Beauty in massive numbers; this is definitely a unique and artistic way to get your word across.

Thanks for writing about these melting men, I haven’t felt this moved in a long time.

[Reply]

@LunaJune

December 12th, 2009

That was wicked… I can only imagine what it would have been like to stand and watch… I wonder how many got it?

[Reply]

@MaliMalzzz

March 2nd, 2010

This is amazing, I loooooove it! Minimal in its execution yet delivers maximum impact. Thanks for sharing.

ps-I think your blog is awesome, I’m a big fan :)

[Reply]

Diana Adams Reply:

Thank you Malia! I really appreciate your comment. I just followed you on Twitter. ;)

[Reply]

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