lines of light mark inevitable sea level rise from climate change

at high tide, three synchronized lines of light activate in the outer hebrides off the west coast of scotland. lines (57° 59 ́N, 7° 16 ́W) by finnish artists pekka niittyvirta and timo aho wrap around two structures and along the base of a mountain landscape. everything below these lines of light will one day be underwater. 

all images courtesy of pekka niittyvirta and timo aho

low lying archipelagos like this one are especially vulnerable to the catastrophic effects of climate change. in fact, the centre where the installation is situated, taigh chearsabhagh museum & arts centre, cannot even afford to develop on its existing site anymore due to the predicted rise of storm surge sea.

pekka niittyvirta and timo aho use quintessentially basic elements, lines and light, to remind us of two potential futures. a future where these structures are underwater. and, more optimistically, a future where we begin to take climate change seriously and attempt to reverse the symptoms we have inflicted upon the earth.