FAQ: Elena Tengri's 'Ashes of the Cold' Ice Sculpture in Egyptian Desert

What is ‘Ashes of the Cold’ and what is its main purpose?

‘Ashes of the Cold’ is an environmental art project by Elena Tengri featuring a monumental ice sculpture that uses melting Arctic materials in the Egyptian desert to highlight the climate crisis and serve as a metaphor for global warming.

Who is Elena Tengri and what inspired this project?

Elena Tengri is an environmental artist originally from Yakutia, Siberia, who belongs to the Siberian ethnic minority Sakha. She drew inspiration from the ancient Sakha myth of the Bull of Cold, where melting horns symbolize the return of warmth, which she reinterpreted as a metaphor for global warming.

Where and when was the sculpture installed?

The project had two iterations: one installation at Petrified Forest National Park in Egypt, and a second three-day event at a local horse farm where the sculpture was left to melt completely while being captured in time-lapse video.

What are the physical dimensions and materials of the sculpture?

The centerpiece is a monumental sculpture measuring six meters in length and weighing seven tons, crafted from ice and snow sourced from Arctic materials.

Why was the Egyptian desert chosen as the location?

The Egyptian desert was chosen to create a stark visual contradiction where Arctic materials slowly dissolve under the relentless sun, and because countries with arid climates like Egypt are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, facing severe water scarcity and heat-related challenges.

What does the melting ice symbolize in this context?

Unlike in the original legend where melting horns promise spring, here the melting symbolizes nature’s disappearing balance and serves as a metaphor for the potential disappearance of cold from the planet due to climate change.

What environmental issues does this project address?

The project addresses global warming, water scarcity (with over 4 billion people experiencing severe water scarcity annually), and the vulnerability of arid regions like Egypt to climate impacts including lack of clean water, heat-related illness, and air pollution.

Who supported and collaborated on this project?

The project received support from the Ministry of Environment of Egypt for the Petrified Forest National Park installation, as well as collaboration from New Level Agency and a participating horse farm.

Where can I find more information about Elena Tengri and her work?

More information about Elena Tengri and her work is available at www.elenatengri.art.

What message does the artist hope viewers take away from this installation?

Tengri hopes the work reminds viewers that the cycles and seasons we once trusted are not eternal, and challenges them to confront the quiet urgency of climate change through the universal language of melting ice.