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The Tipping Point is a data driven light and sound kinetic installation of 24 custom metronomes and a video projection. The artwork highlights the urgency and the increased risk that one or several tipping elements in the climate system might cross a critical threshold, with severe consequences for global climate, ecosystems and human societies.
The metronomes move, driven by sets of past, present and projected future, environmental data linked to five major climate tipping points. The temporal journey through data is reflected by the metronomes' tempo, as the beats intensify over time. A final cacophony reflects the mounting urgency of the climate crisis. Then, all metronomes halt abruptly, and a critical tipping point is reached as the room falls silent.
The title, The Tipping Point, is singular as it refers to the tipping point that society is approaching. As such, the aim is for visitors to realize that now is the time to take collective action.
“The Tipping Point” is a proposal for a data driven light and sound kinetic installation of 24 custom light metronomes. The artwork highlight the urgency and the increased risk that one or several tipping elements in the climate system might cross a critical threshold, resulting in severe consequences for the global climate, ecosystems and human societies. Using data from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report the installation begins a journey through the rise of the global temperature. Starting from 1950 to the present and then to the future as describe on the SSP5 (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways) projection model, a future where fossil fuel will still be the basis of our economy and energy system. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently said, “…time is running out. Irreversible climate tipping points lie alarmingly close.”
The Tipping Point website.
Yiannis Kranidiotis is an artist whose work explores the relationship between science and art using mainly light, motion and sound to create spaces and experiences where all coexist and interact. Frank Dentener works since 30 years in the field climate change, agriculture and atmospheric pollution and is a senior expert and group leader at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. The pair met, connected at the SciArt Summer School on the topic of NaturArchy which took place in June 2022 at the JRC, consequently deciding to work together.
04 Feb 2026 | 14 Jul 2026
