FIRE AND ICE

"Fire and Ice", originally a poem by Robert Frost, discusses how the world will perish- either in fire or in ice.

This project challenges to be a visual representation of the poem, through the stark contrast of hot and cool- but also showing how these concepts tend to bleed into each other. The original poem discusses how both fire and ice are sufficient enough ways to overwhelm the human race and our natural environment. It goes through themes of environmental destruction but also implicates the consequences of humanity such as fire as active human destruction (war), and ice as a more quiet way of ending the world such as through hatred, all concepts that have been reintroduced to our modern timeline through climate disaster, the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine.

As a millenial, I used to believe that the days of war and suffering were over for the modern day man. Then I experienced the 3.11 earthquake in Japan followed by a nuclear meltdown in Fukushima. This equipped me to acknowledge and upcoming climate disaster, leading me to work in the field of sustainability. Then I experienced the COVID pandemic… Then I saw the war on Ukraine unravel in a split second.

Whether it be a slow burn or an instantaneous happening, I’ve learned that the aspects we take for granted in life, from love to comfort, and our sense of entitlement that allows us to feel any bit of bitterness, can be taken away from anybody at any given time.

“Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.”

-Robert Frost