ISATHERAPY
SIM Residency, Reykjavik Iceland 2024
participatory performance

In February 2024, through the SIM Residency program and with support from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, I conducted research in the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, gathering information on ice behavior and experimenting with exposure to extreme cold. This research culminated in the creation of a participatory performance called Isatherapy.

ISA is one of the letters in the Nordic runic alphabet, corresponding to the letter "I". Literally, it means "ice," but metaphorically, it symbolizes patience, concentration, peace, and composure. Isatherapy thus refers to "ice therapy,"

a practice aimed at achieving a state of peace, focus, and calmness. This cold therapy involves exposing the body to temperatures around 0°C or below. Physiologically, exposure to such low temperatures causes muscles and peripheral blood vessels to contract, leading to reduced blood flow and a slower metabolism. However, once the exposure ends, blood pressure rises, resulting

in the oxygenation of the entire body or the specific area that was exposed to the cold. Upon rewarming, the blood vessels dilate, increasing the presence of anti-inflammatory proteins (IL-10) in the bloodstream.

The performance I developed was centered around performing an isatherapeutic procedure on participants who applied to take part. The sensations of pain and relaxation intertwined during the experience. Participants were informed about

the scale of ice ablation in polar regions and the risks of frostbite from prolonged cold exposure. They witnessed firsthand how ice melts upon contact with the human body, revealing the fragility of its and our physical form. Through this session, participants achieved relaxation of muscles and blood vessels in the area excited by the ice. On the other hand, they also became deeply concerned about environmental changes, which led them to appreciate our shared vulnerability.

Indeed, physical contact with ice has been scientifically proven to have beneficial effects on the human body. However, the real question I seek to explore is whether we can reverse this dynamic—can our presence positively impact ice resources? In short, what can we do to heal the ice?

The relationship between humans and ice is marked by a mutual threat of injury, death, or extinction. The rapid melting of the Arctic is no longer a speculative scenario from a dystopian future—it is happening now at an unprecedented rate. This accelerating climate change, most visible in the polar regions, is one of my primary concerns.

Glacial melting, a consequence of rising global temperatures, not only alters the physical landscape but also disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems that depend on glacier meltwater for survival. The reduction in ice and snow resources directly threatens the survival of many species, including humans.

In the face of this urgent environmental crisis, Isatherapy serves as both

a reflection on our fragile relationship with nature and a call to response—ible actions, urging us to find ways to achieve equilibrium in coexistence with others.