Tom Corby (The Northern Polar Studies)

Tom is an artist and academic interested in climate change, data, technology, systems and geology. He studied at Chelsea College of Art and Design, and works at the Centre for Research in Education Art and Media (CREAM) at the University of Westminster.

The Northern Polar Studies

In this screen-based installation, Corby uses data collected from sea buoys and Arctic satellites, measuring levels of sea ice. This data has then been modeled and animated to visually represent the distribution and retreat of sea ice since the 80s. By animating this data into a fluid, constantly morphing and evolving abstract form, Corby highlights the vulnerability, plasticity and volatility of the current situation in the Arctic. This spontaneous and unfamiliar visual form is unnerving and draws attention the issue of melting sea ice.

The way in which Corby draws attention to climate change and the current geographical situation by using visual metaphors (particularly based on real data) has inspired us to delve deeper into thinking about the presentation of our work and how each element of it can be linked back to the issue at hand; climate change.