Image from the film in the installation

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EXHIBITION TEXT

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In 1999, a woman in Norway survived the lowest body temperature ever recorded: 13.7°C. While skiing, she ended up under a frozen river for two hours and went into a state between life and death. Our bodies “freeze” at temperatures below 24°C, in which time and our bodies seem to stand still.

 

When do we stop moving?

 

Cold sets us in motion. We shiver, tremble, and chatter our teeth to stay warm, we swim in cold water for our health, and in the

Netherlands, we all get our skates out of the closet when

temperatures drop below freezing.

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Cold is duality. It is dangerous, painful, impressive, and peaceful. We look in awe at falling glaciers and reflect on the power of cold, but at the same time, we worry about its disappearance.

 

Cold is stagnation. In history, science, and philosophy, cold is a sign of sagnation and preservation. For example, the rune Isa (a sign from the ancient Germanic alphabet) means inaction and reflection, and cold on Mount Everest can cause someone to stop moving forever, but years later, their body can still be recognized as completely intact.

 

What is our human relationship to cold and ice? And how can we connect cold to movement?