Human inaction and ignorance of climate change are turning majestic ice formations into relics of the past.
The solo exhibition, Contemplating Glaciers – A Dialogue by British Columbia artist Jan Kabatoff, curated by Jessica Turner, AMGD ’21 is on display at the Tett Gallery in the Tett Centre for Creativity from Aug. 2 to 31. This exhibition explores the impacts of climate change, highlighting its growing visibility and urgency.
As global temperatures steadily rise, glaciers worldwide are melting at an unprecedented rate, Turner explained. As a symbol of Canada’s natural heritage, the Athabasca Glacier in the Canadian Rockies, is expected to be completely melted by 2070. This dire prediction brings forth an urgency for collective action to address climate change.
Turner re growing up and studying the Rocky Mountains.
“I feel this is part of our national identity and we’re losing it, and that’s what’s so specific about this exhibition is that it’s tied to Canada,” Turner said in an interview with The Journal.
The exhibition has notably been endorsed by the United Nations International Conference on Glacier Preservation 2025 and will offer an opportunity to raise awareness and address the escalating challenges posed by the global climate change and water crisis worldwide. According to the UN, up to a third of the world’s glaciers could vanish by the end of this century.
Turner explained glaciers act as thermal regulators for the Earth, emphasizing there’s no longer a question of “if” but “when” we will lose the glacier.
Glaciers regulate the Earth’s temperature through the albedo effect, by helping to keep the planet cool by reflecting sunlight away from its surface. Without them, more sunlight is absorbed by the Earth, leading to an increase in global temperatures.
This warming accelerates various extreme natural events, such as wildfires, heat domes, floods, and droughts, which are already happening. The wildfires, in turn, contribute to further warming creating a loop that speeds up the melting of the glaciers. This cascade of effects highlights the urgent need for adaptation and resilience in response to these changes.
While these updates might create a sense of doom and helplessness, Turner encourages people not to lose hope. Instead, she urges them to act by reducing their carbon emissions and ing local, provincial, and national climate action initiatives—but action can be as small as shopping from a local food market or brewing your own coffee in the morning.
Kabatoff has spent over two decades researching melting glaciers and traveling across North America, South America, and Asia to gather data for her artistic practice. She captures the dynamic nature of glaciers through various mediums, including videos, audio recordings, paintings, sculptures, and textiles, enabling others to experience these massive ice formations up close.
“My multi-media approach combines aesthetic observations and artistic skill with research that is grounded in science. It is meant to convey the intrinsic beauty of glaciers while at the same time, facilitate a dialogue about climate change that will catalyze civic engagement,” Kabatoff said in her artist statement.
Turner’s favourite piece from the exhibition is the Moulin—a hand-dyed silk frottage depicting glacier surfaces. As you enter the exhibition you’re welcomed by three towering columns, each about two meters high, elegantly descending from the ceiling. These columns represent moulins—natural ice shafts within glaciers where meltwater carves its way from the surface to the depths below, becoming the very heart of the glacier.
“They represent the glacier’s fragility and vulnerability as these vertical shafts act as a natural plumbing system for the glacier,” Turner explained.
Each moulin is inspired by a different continent of Kabatoff’s travels—reflecting the global impact of climate change. Moulins are crucial for understanding glacier meltwater dynamics and their contribution to rising sea levels.
As a curator, Turner recognizes people have varying preconceptions about climate change and may struggle with the abstract nature of the subject. Through the exhibition, she sought to gently introduce climate change, bridging the gap between the audience and nature. Her goal was to spark an emotional connection that resonates deeply with visitors.
“When people leave the exhibition, I’m hoping that they, whether consciously or subconsciously, start to think more about their actions. I’m trying to create some sort of behavioural change in people,” Turner said in an interview with The Journal.
She hopes visitors walk away with a fresh perspective and a deeper appreciation for nature and our Earth. Even if it doesn’t spark immediate action, she hopes the exhibit will gently plant the seed of awareness that grows, whether they’re conscious of it or not.
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