Coastline Paradox

Coastline Paradox is an interactive online art experiment by Timo Aho and Pekka Niittyvirta. The project visualizes future sea level rise and simulates the migration caused by the climate crisis.

Visit the project here: https://artsexperiments.withgoogle.com/coastline-paradox

The experiment engages the viewer with the impacts of the climate crisis through a custom-built map interface and Google Street View. The glowing areas on the map interface and the glowing horizontal line on the Street View represent the sea level rise. These can be altered through an interactive parameter – time, which visualizes the impact of this man-made environmental disaster.

Coastline Paradox is a continuation of the artists’ previous installation Lines (57° 59′ N, 7° 16’W), which was first opened on May Day 2018 at Taigh Chearsabhagh Art Center in the Outer Hebridean island of North Uist, Scotland. Covering a total length of 115 m horizontal lines of lights installed in three locations in the vicinity of the art centre. The installation is activated by the rising tide showing where the future storm surges will likely rise within this century.

By extending their work to a global online platform, the artists invite the viewer to explore a world where sea levels rise and instability increases the further we advance into our uncertain future.

Coastline Paradox is a collaboration with Google Arts & Culture as part of Heartbeat Of The Earth, a series of online climate artworks.