Antarctica While you were sleeping

Overview

Joseph Michael, a media artist, describes his long-term project inspired by living in urban, technology-heavy environments while constantly seeking nature and solitude. He creates digital moving-image artwork that combines photographic documentation with large-scale installation design to evoke the awe (and slight uneasiness) of Antarctica—without becoming overly didactic about environmental messaging.

Artistic techniques, concepts, and creative process

Mixed media approach

• Combines photography and video/moving image into digital artwork.

Conceptual translation of subject

• Central metaphor: an iceberg placed in an urban environment to communicate its scale and grandeur.
• Audience interpretation: avoids forcing conclusions; the work presents an idea and allows viewers to form their own interpretation.

Immersive public installation

• Antarctica visuals are rendered as a projection onto a building.
• The installation moves the audience from an urban context into an Antarctic feeling.

Research + fieldwork for accurate mapping

• Chartered boat trip:
  • Sailed across the Drake Passage
  • Spent about a month around the Antarctic Peninsula
• Photographic mapping of icebergs as foundational source material.

Projection engineering and alignment workflow

• Test projections on scale models before final projection mapping.
• Produced a highly detailed 3 billion point scan of the building to create a geometry reference.
• Used multiple scale model iterations to ensure the projections aligned correctly.

Layered “peel and rewrap” projection metaphor

• The workflow is described like peeling an orange:
  • Photograph the iceberg (like removing the “skin”)
  • Then attach/apply that visual content onto the building (like wrapping it back)
• The process involves multiple layers of processing.

Sound design as emotional glue

• Sound is described as crucial for emotional connection.
• Icebergs/space are treated as having unique “sound signatures.”
• Ambient audio from Antarctica is captured and integrated so viewers feel something, not just see visuals.

Experience-first composition

• Composition is designed to transport viewers emotionally toward how the artist felt in Antarctica.

Creative mindset

• Promotes lack of fear of failure, encouraging projects even when outcomes aren’t guaranteed.

Timeline / production steps (as stated)

• 4 years total, including:
  • 2 years to prepare and mount the expedition:
    • Fund, organize crew, travel to Antarctica, film content
  • 2 years to build the installation:
    • Translate digital work into physical projected form on the building
    • Conduct projection testing and scale model planning
    • Use building scanning data (3 billion point scan)
    • Edit and finalize for public installation

Creators / contributors mentioned

• Joseph Michael — media artist; creator/director of the project