Melting Species: Glasgow was commissioned for the Only Human? festival, Glasgow, November 2014.
Melting Species: Glasgow comprised twelve ice blocks, made from water borrowed from the River Kelvin in Glasgow, Scotland and frozen in moulds made from drinking water containers of various sizes. The amount of water in each block corresponded to the quantity of water found in a healthy member of a species of plant or animal found in or around the River Kelvin. The ice blocks were installed near to the river, beside a busy public walkway, and left to melt.
Melting Species (River Kelvin) – performance score
Select a number of species of animal and/or plant commonly found near to the River Kelvin. Calculate the (approximate) quantity of water present in a healthy member of each species. Acquire a selection of differently-sized drinking water containers. Assign each animal/plant to an appropriately-sized water container. Fill each container with a quantity of water corresponding to the water present in its assigned animal/plant. Place the containers in a freezer. The water should be borrowed from the River Kelvin. Wait until all the water is frozen. (This might take several days for larger animals and plants, such as the human or roe deer.) Take the ice moulds from the freezer and place them somewhere near to the River Kelvin. Carefully remove the ice columns from the moulds. Observe the ice melting. Remember that hands should be washed thoroughly if they come into contact with water from the River Kelvin.