Julius Baer, the renowned Swiss wealth management group, is thrilled to present the highly anticipated debut of ‘Glacier Dreams’ by Refik Anadol in Singapore. This awe-inspiring multi-sensory experience will be showcased from 1 to 25 June 2023 at the iconic ArtScience Museum, as part of i Light Singapore 2023. Co-presented by Julius Baer and Marina Bay Sands, ‘Glacier Dreams‘ promises to inspire joy and hope while highlighting the pressing issue of glacier disappearance worldwide.
Julius Baer’s NEXT Initiative: Uniting Art, Science, and Technology
‘Glacier Dreams’ is an integral part of Julius Baer’s NEXT initiative, which explores the convergence of arts, science, and technology while encouraging the exploration of megatrends. The initiative’s inaugural project, focusing on ‘digital disruption,’ sought the artistic prowess of Refik Anadol, an internationally acclaimed media artist, director, and pioneer in data aesthetics and machine intelligence. With this collaboration, Julius Baer aims to champion artistic innovation and delve into the transformative power of technology fused with the arts and sciences.
Jimmy Lee, Member of the Executive Board of Julius Baer Group Ltd and Head Asia Pacific, expressed the bank’s commitment to supporting the arts and extending their dedication to Asia. Anadol’s artwork, ‘Glacier Dreams,’ serves as a testament to this dedication and exemplifies Julius Baer’s passion for cultivating cutting-edge art forms that reflect society’s evolving priorities. The NEXT initiative fosters collaboration between visionary artists and institutions, creating a platform for groundbreaking projects that explore the intersections of art, science, and technology.
The Essence of ‘Glacier Dreams’
‘Refik Anadol‘s ‘Glacier Dreams’ represents a long-term research and art project at the crossroads of multi-sensory experiences, machine learning, and environmental studies,’ explains Anadol himself. Using a vast dataset of glacier images from around the world, the artwork aims to shed light on the alarming disappearance of glaciers. However, rather than focusing solely on the dangers, ‘Glacier Dreams’ offers a unique approach that combines hope, inspiration, and joy. Through a captivating audio-visual experience created with a pioneering artificial intelligence model, Anadol aims to raise awareness while providing a positive and transformative experience for humanity.
Julius Baer’s NEXT Initiative: Pioneering Art and Science Collaborations (Paragraph 5): Launched in December 2022 with the support of Serpentine, London, Julius Baer’s NEXT initiative serves as a platform that nurtures connections between forward-thinking artists and leading institutions in scientific research and technological development. Refik Anadol Studio was chosen for the inaugural initiative and embarked on an extraordinary journey to create a series of multisensory artworks. By leveraging a vast dataset of glacier images, these artworks symbolize both the wonders of life and the fragility of our planet.
Furthermore, ‘Glacier Dreams’ incorporates an olfactory component exclusively available to Julius Baer guests during private events, adding yet another layer of sensory immersion.