Google Arts & Culture: 10 interactive experiences on caring for the planet

Google Arts & Culture and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) carried out a project with the aim of showing and raise awareness of the impact of environmental damage on the planet.

As part of this initiative, they invited Refik Anadol and the women's art collective Hyphen Labs to interpret scientific data on climate through two interactive works of art. These experiences, which are now available online and free of charge, are part of the third edition of the Heartbeat of the Earth collection (in Spanish, “The heartbeat of the earth”).

These new works are in addition to the eight already published since the beginning of the Google Arts & Culture collection in 2020, with the aim of making data explaining the impact of climate change more accessible and visible. Thus, there are a total of 10 interactive experiences that can be experienced from the aforementioned Google site.

“With the impacts of climate change accelerating and becoming more apparent every day, it is more important than ever to engage artists and use culture as a vehicle for the message that the situation around the climate crisis is urgent,” said Ovais Sarmad, UN Deputy Executive Secretary for Climate Change, at the shared statement.

1. What damage would an MRI of the earth show

In the experiment “Earth MRI”, artist Refik Anadol interprets the planet as if it were a body, showing the damage we are inflicting on it by climate change. Anadol invites reflection on the beauty of the Earth through visualizations of natural landscapes generated by machine learning.

2. How will the cascading effects of the melting of the poles affect

The global collective Hyphen Labs, along with artist iñupiaq (from northern Alaska) Allison Akootchook Warden and the Union of Concerned Scientists, explore in the “Insidious Rise” experience the cascading effects of warming polar ice and explain how climate warming will not only trigger collapse ecological, but will also put pressure on existing systems that already disproportionately affect the marginalized.

3. The retreat of glaciers

This experience allows us to see the impressive retreat of two glaciers in Switzerland over the past 140 years. All data and analysis were provided by the artist Fabian Oefner who was in charge of this work.

4. Microplastics in the air

This paper explores the impact that microplastics in the air are having on the environment and also on the health of human beings. The work was done in collaboration with the artist Giorgia Lupi.

5. The increase in jellyfish

An interactive experience to understand why jellyfish are increasing and how this population increase is linked to the climate crisis that is being experienced. The work was done with the help of the artist Cristina Tarquini.

6. Rising sea levels

A Map and Street View experiment that visualizes actual global sea level rise, as well as what is forecast to occur in the future as a result of climate change. The artists involved in this project were Timo Aho and Pekka Niittyvirta.

7. The Impact of Rising Temperatures on Marine Life

This project, carried out in collaboration with artist Cristina Tarquini, is an interactive data visualization that invites users to immerse themselves in the ocean and explore the impact of rising temperatures on marine life.

8. The species that become extinct

The experience, based on machine learning, allows you to visualize what could be lost and what will be left as temperatures rise on Earth. It is a project that was attended by artist Sey Min.

9. The lake

This experience, developed together with Felicity Hammond, shows how a fictitious coastal city disappears. It seeks to raise awareness about the impact that climate change has on temperatures and how this will affect the ecosystem.

10. What we eat

This initiative is to explore the carbon footprint generated from certain foods and dietary diets that are followed in the US. United States, France and the United Kingdom. Laurie Frick participated in this development.

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