GASP

Thijs Biersteker creates art installations that provoke insight into the ecological challenges ahead. In his practice, he collaborates with the world’s top scientists and institutions to turn their climate data into art installations that make the overwhelming challenges ahead accessible, understandable and relatable. 

With his immersive installations, often described as eco - or awareness art, he turns the invisible impact we have on the planet visible. Topics like climate change, air pollution, ocean plastic, and biodiversity loss are turned into tangible experiences that travel the world to create awareness.  

This work, GASP, takes air pollution measurements from a nearby road, a nearby forest and the installation space itself. PM 2.5 particles are measured, and then increased in volume by 4000x so they are visible to our eye. The representation of these particles flows down a square screen, before pooling at the bottom, as it would in our own bodies. The work demonstrates the capacity of installation to create visual impact out of scientific readings.