The emptiness of the space – the conventional “white cube” – is akin to a manifesto. It poses a question: what is the place of art in the climate crisis? It is also a question about overproduction in an art market that constantly craves new works. The space may be devoid of objects, but it is filled with a soundscape composed of recordings made on the Rhône, Aletsch and Morteratsch glaciers. Polish artist Diana Lelonek first collaborated with Basel-based German musician Denim Szram during her residency in the city as part of the 2019 Culturescapes Festival. Together, they devised Melting Gallery, an immersive sound installation conceived as a symphony composed by and for disappearing glaciers. The slow trickling sounds, akin to a countdown to catastrophe, are anything but deafening in themselves. But they possess a persistent, inexorable quality that unquestionably instils anxiety and fear.

Diana Lelonek (b. 1988) holds a degree in photography and a PhD in interdisciplinary studies from the University of the Arts in Poznań, Poland. She currently works at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Her works stand at the crossroads of art and science, exploring processes of overproduction, unlimited growth and environmental harm. She uses photography, living matter and found objects as her mediums.

Denim Szram (b. 1990) is a German sound artist who lives and works in Basel. His body of work features compositions, performances, multimedia installations, immersive environments, and pieces for dance and theatre. After graduating from Hochschule Darmstadt with a degree in digital media, he went on to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, and completed a School of Excellence programme in audio design at the Musik-Akademie Basel.

This project was made possible thanks to the commitment of the Glacier Garden.