One Cloud: A Vanishing Horizon
a series of 10 micro-videos and photographies
2023

"One Cloud: A Vanishing Horizon" is an exploration of the incarnated relationship between clouds and human beings. It reveals the delicate yet profound interplay between our warming climate and the transient beauty of clouds.


Acting as thermal blankets and sunlight reflectors, clouds embody the paradox of our environment. High cirrus clouds, wispy and delicate, visible on clear days, absorb and trap radiation, contributing to Earth's warming. In contrast, clouds from the cumulus family, those fluffy shapes of fair-weather days, reflect sunlight back into space, performing a crucial cooling function.


"One Cloud - Observations" — The micro-videos initiates with a simple task: a 20-second observation of a cumulus cloud, communicated through a mobile reminder. This cloud transforms through a dynamic gradient of sunset hues, subtly shifting - a metaphor for our climate's fragile and transformative nature. At its heart, the piece employs the opponent-process theory of color vision, creating a lingering negative afterimage of the cloud as it fades into a stark white screen. The climax is a simple revelation: a message announcing the introduction of the Cumulus Cloud. The curious will be intrigued and will start reading the text attached to the piece, revealing the impending extinction of cumulus clouds due to rising global temperatures. By elucidating the nuanced roles of clouds and the interconnectedness of Earth's climatic systems, this piece serves as both a moment of reflection and a call to action, urging us to consider our role in this complex climatic narrative.


In resonance with Sandrine Bony's research and the findings of the EU-funded EUREC4A project (2022), this piece transcends mere commentary. It compels us to reflect on our role in Earth's climatic narrative and confront the question: how will we respond to our vanishing horizons?

"In our complex world where human impact influences even the most fleeting aspects of nature, 'One Cloud: A Vanishing Horizon' invites us to pause, reflect and engage. Just as every cloud carries an individual story of transformation, so do we hold the power to change the narrative of our planet. This series is not only a tribute to the mesmerizing beauty of the skies, but a call to action, a reminder that in every moment lies the possibility for change."

Pau Walder. Art critic and curator.
"In our complex world where human impact influences even the most fleeting aspects of nature, 'One Cloud: A Vanishing Horizon' invites us to pause, reflect and engage. Just as every cloud carries an individual story of transformation, so do we hold the power to change the narrative of our planet. This series is not only a tribute to the mesmerizing beauty of the skies, but a call to action, a reminder that in every moment lies the possibility for change."

Pau Walder. Art critic and curator.