Memoirs of the Abyss: Three Ecologies and More

Arctic Ice Chess

25 September 2021

On Saturday 25 September a chess tournament on the subject of climate change was initiated on the Copenhagen Waterfront, as part of the curatorial research project Memoirs of the Abyss: Three Ecologies and More, curated by Malou Solfjeld. The first Arcitc Ice Chess match took place on the prow of the MS Arno, moored at Langebrogade 1C, Saturday 25 September at 12.00-14.00.

The artwork Arctic Ice Chess, created by the Philippine artist Catherine Sarah Young, was activated for the first game by Jon Rahbek-Clemmensen, lecturer at the Institute for Strategy at the Danish Ministry of Defence Academy, who played a match with melting chess pieces against environmental activist and candidate for mayor, Gorm Gunnarsen, while they discussed issues related to the world's rising sea levels and geopolitical and economic interests in the Arctic.

They played for 45 minutes, of which highlights in four segments are presented below. Their conversation took place in Danish and are subtitled in English.