The Debt - Polaroids
From Sunday the 4th of September 2022 until Saturday the 10th, Boccanegra embarked on a project that involved the collection of 1000 liters of glacial melting water from various small Icelandic rivers. This water was then frozen overnight in an industrial freezer located in Reykjavik. The following day, the artist transported the resulting ice blocks to the base of the Ok mountain, employing a specialized backpack for the task. The ascent to the summit, covering a distance of approximately 400 meters, was accompanied by the use of an isolation blanket to shield the ice from the sun's rays.
Regrettably, due to unusually high temperatures, which were seven degrees above the average, the ice began melting during the ascent. The relentless sun, dry winds, and absence of shade exacerbated this process, contributing to the arduous nature of the performance. Despite the artist's efforts to preserve the ice by burying it in the snow and covering it with an isolation blanket, these attempts proved futile.
Throughout the endeavor, the artist faced the Sisyphean challenge of safeguarding the ice blocks against inevitable melting, highlighting the ephemeral nature of the performance.
Not a single cloud in the sky.
Together with some good hiking boots, sporting tape was one of the investments that definitely paid of. After two days there was no more hair on my ankles and feet tho. But it was worth it, since a sprained ankle would be the end of the performance.
To shield my backpack from the Sun, I used an insulation blanket.
I made several of these piles of stones to easily find my way up. Despite the good weather you could easily get disoriented. Something I experienced first hand during the only cloudy and rainy day.
Taken by Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove
My first impression of this place was how quiet it was. No birds, no wind, just pure silence. I had never experienced something like that. Sometimes I could hear cracks from the other glaciers.
A portrait shot taken by Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove. An excellent nature photographer from Belgium, who moved to Iceland.
By the time I was halfway up the volcano, 25% of the ice had already melted. Some of the melting water I drank. The sun, dry winds and unusually high temperatures took its toll. The next day the ice was gone.
Although the height of the OK is 1141m, the actual climb to the top is about 450m. Starting from the place where I parked. The tricky part was the rocky terrain, like a moon landscape.
On the third day, during my first ascent, I saw that the insulation blanket was been blown away during the night. Luckily for me it’s pretty easy to spot. It was stuck between some rocks on the other side of the crater.
Not a single cloud in the sky.