State of Change

The ice caps are melting. New topographies are created through rising sea levels. And as the ice sheets shrink, more light is absorbed onto the earth’s surface, further accelerating global warming. A vicious circle. 

In these works light travels through blocks of ice, large and small, industrial and domestic. As it slowly melts, its shape and form is changed. The resulting images document the frozen fragments refracting and reflecting light, producing patterns suggestive of shifting landscapes. The ice floats in a sea of negative space. 

Like a window into other worlds, drips and spots from the melting ice reference how humans have marked the earth. They reference the profound impacts of human-induced climate change on our landscapes.

Ice is transparent and transient, whilst light penetrates and exposes. The artworks explore the relationship between these two elements and draw links between states of change, examining literally, figuratively, and abstractly, human impacts on the globe.

The works continue Cresciani’s interest in altered landscapes, in an abstract way, exploring negative space and particularly transition and transformation. Non-places like road works, waste centres, and deforested sites. 

Cresciani graduated from Sydney College of the Arts in 2012 and was a finalist in 2021 Earth Photo Award London and the KL Photo Award; 2019 and 2017 Bowness Photography Prize; 2018 and 2020 Mandorla Prize; semi finalist 2019 Head On; finalist 2015 Chippendale New World Art Prize, Agendo Art Prize and 2010 National Youth Self Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery.