ThijsBiersteker:Gasp

Air pollution, often invisible and easily overlooked, has a profound impact on our health and environment. Constructed in the Tiilikello x Polestar art space, Gasp is a captivating installation by Dutch artist Thijs Biersteker that uses real-time city air pollution data to visualize the presence of PM2.5 particles and smaller ones. As a magnifying glass, it enlarges these particles from their original 2.5-micrometre size to 10 millimetres, creating an impressive 4,000 times scale enlargement. The artwork features mesmerizing drops of oil dripping into water, which represent the enlarged particles floating in the air. The number of drops adjusts dynamically to the current pollution levels detected by a sensor, showcasing the ever-changing nature of air pollution.

Thijs Biersteker creates art installations that provoke insight into the ecological challenges ahead. In his practice, he collaborates with the world’s top scientists and institutions to turn their climate data into art installations that make the overwhelming challenges ahead accessible, understandable and relatable.

Biersteker has exhibited in museums and galleries across the world and has been awarded the prestigious Lumen Prize for digital art, among others. To produce his works in a sustainable and circular way, he founded Woven Studio, where emission calculations and recyclability are integrated into a material passport attached to each artwork.