Tristan Duke’s exhibition, “Glacial Optics,” is currently on display at SITE Santa Fe in New Mexico until March 17, 2025. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a series of large-scale photographs capturing Arctic landscapes through a unique lens crafted by the artist from the ice of the region’s glaciers.
The project began in 2022 when Duke embarked on an Arctic expedition to find clear ice that he could shape into a functioning camera lens. Using this ice lens, he captured stunning portraits of glaciers, focusing through their own ice and recording the images on giant negatives with a deployable tent camera.
Upon returning from the Arctic, Duke shifted his focus to the impact of wildfires in the American West. Despite the stark contrast to the icy landscapes where the project originated, Duke draws a clear connection between melting glaciers and raging wildfires, highlighting the effects of the climate crisis driven by human activities.
In 2023-24, Duke collaborated with leading laboratories, exploring the work of scientists studying glacier ice. He delved into the research of paleoclimatologists reconstructing climate histories from ice core samples and astrophysicists searching for “ghost particles” deep within glaciers. Drawing inspiration from these studies, Duke uncovers hidden narratives encoded in Earth’s ice.
Duke’s innovative approach to photography expands its scope beyond mere visual representation, positioning it as a medium for addressing social and environmental issues. By merging conceptual and material elements, Duke prompts viewers to contemplate the “gaze of the glacier,” the impact of drought, the passage of time, and the enduring nature of our planet.
For more information on Tristan Duke’s “Glacial Optics” exhibition, visit the SITE Santa Fe website at sitesantafe.org. Explore the intersection of art, science, and environmental advocacy through Duke’s captivating lens.
