Billboard from the Iceberg Series / by Environmental Humanities Hub

Juliana Abait, Argentinian

Billboard from the Iceberg Series, 2016

This is a piece from Abait’s Iceberg series created in 2017. This is one of many pieces that combines photographs of icebergs with the addition of a pastels and pencils over the photograph to create a surreal image. The artist hopes to use these icebergs as a metaphor for the wandering migrant, working to overcome the hurdles and burdens of leaving home. This image uses a billboard as the focal point and juxtaposition to the natural landscape. The billboard stands out as extremely human and an example of human ingenuity to build a structure on a platform that will soon be melted and underwater. Additionally, the dull shades of grey and blue in the water give the image an overwhelming sense of monotony, only amplified by the blank billboard. Label by Sam Dutilly