FAQ

Frequently asked questions

1. What does the name SunGlacier stand for?
2. Who is Ap Verheggen ?
3. What was the reason for the artist to start this project?
4. What does climate change = culture change mean?
5. What is the artist trying to achieve?
6. How can one follow the project?
7. How is it possible to create ice in the desert without external energy sources or water?

1. What does the name SunGlacier stand for?

The name SunGlacier embraces the contrast between ice and desert. At the same time it covers the counter-intuitive aim of the project to create ice and water in the desert by making use of the energy of the sun.

2. Who is Ap Verheggen (1964) ?

Ap is an extraordinarily creative artist in a myriad of media. He is not just focused on making sculptures, but he also designs objects, writes and produces documentary films.  He has always been fascinated by nature. This is very much reflected in his provocative bronze sculptures which incorporate exact copies of natural elements (e.g. fish, vegetables, fruit, vines, people or earth reliefs). His work is sometimes referred to as surreal as it connects reality with something unexpected that doesn’t fit seemingly belong in the composition. Ap’s connection of unrelated elements introduces a sense of discovery and questioning. More information on: https://apverheggen.nl/

3. What was the reason for the artist to start this project?

SunGlacier started because Ap wants to introduce positive signals in the discussion about climate change. Instead of ‘naming, blaming and shaming’, he wants to add a positive focus.  Our climate always has been dynamic. Cultures always adapted to these changes. Right now it seems that our climate is changing very rapidly, so extra fast response is required. The project put forward the essence that climate change means culture change.

4. What does climate change = culture change mean?

With the IceBerg Riders project, Ap demonstrated the inextricable link between climate and culture and visualized what the consequences of that link are. Uummannaq was famous for its dogs and people ride every winter with their sledges across the ice. Normally over a period of 6 months/year, but since 4 years the winters become shorter and shorter. The last 3 years it even was impossible to ride over the sea ice. An important part of their culture is disappearing.
The Iceberg Riders project has shown us that humanity in the fight with nature will always lose. So we must stop fighting against nature, and start to cooperate with it, without disturbing the delicate balance. Only when we are willing to change our culture, we will manage to adapt to the forthcoming climate change. See the documentary film on the culture unplugged channel.

5. What is the artist trying to achieve?

In the SunGlacier project we want to inspire people to tap into new dimensions with creativity, art and science. It will demonstrate that with current technology much can be achieved in response to emerging and urgent threats. It will represent a creative way of thinking about adaptation to climate change. The projects will explore the boundaries of science and technology.

6. How can one follow the project?

By visiting www.sunglacier.com or following SunGlacier on Facebook.

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7. How is it possible to create water in the desert without external energy sources or water?

Outside air is blown into a cold waterfall. The moisture in the air condenses and so the total volume of the waterfall increases during its fall. This is the “growing waterfall” principle. The water that is extracted can then be drawn off.
From the start, we were focused on a portable size off-grid application, powered by solar energy: a new and autonomously working, water source running on renewable energy. With this goal, our aim has been to build a super effective system, harvesting a high volume of water with a low amount of energy.