KURZNACHZEHN 'Where is the Ice?' (2024) Original HPM on World Map

KURZNACHZEHN 'Where is the Ice?' (2024) Original HPM on World Map'Where is the Ice?' by kurznachzehn, 2024 A haunting mix of street art and cartography, confronting climate change through stark symbolism and innocence. 18 x 24. 4 Inches 46 x 62 Centimeters Hand painted spray stencil on real, 2 sided, offset lithograph world map. HPM Limited Edition of only 10 (#9 10). Hand signed and numbered by the artist in black felt tip. *Note: Rare and poignant piece in very good excellent original condition. ABOUT THE ART In

'Where is the Ice?' by kurznachzehn, 2024
A haunting mix of street art and cartography, confronting climate change through stark symbolism and innocence.
18 x 24.4 Inches
46 x 62 Centimeters
Hand-painted spray/stencil on real, 2-sided, offset lithograph world map.
HPM Limited Edition of only 10 (#9/10).
Hand-signed and numbered by the artist in black felt tip.
*Note: Rare and poignant piece in very good - excellent original condition.

ABOUT THE ART

In 'Where is the Ice' (2024), kurznachzehn delivers a powerful environmental statement by merging stencil-based street art with a found, real-world map as the canvas.

The piece depicts a young child peering through binoculars across the Arctic, accompanied by a polar bear whose elongated, almost surreal form wraps protectively around him. Set against a real map of the Arctic Ocean floor, the work creates an immediate tension between scientific reality and artistic interpretation—highlighting the fragility of a region undergoing rapid transformation.

The child’s act of searching becomes the emotional core of the piece. His gaze suggests curiosity, but also confusion—perhaps even loss—while the question implied in the title underscores the urgency of disappearing ice and shifting ecosystems. The polar bear, an enduring symbol of climate vulnerability, is rendered in a softened, almost ghost-like palette, reinforcing the idea of something fading or at risk. By placing these figures directly onto a map, Kurznachzehn grounds the work in real geography, making the message both literal and unavoidably immediate.

Known for working across unconventional surfaces and integrating socio-political themes into his practice, kurznachzehn often explores the intersection of human experience and global issues.

This hand-painted edition of only 10 further emphasizes the piece’s uniqueness—each work existing as both an artwork and an object, with the map itself becoming part of the narrative. With 'Where is the Ice', the artist creates a visually compelling and thought-provoking work that resonates on both an emotional and environmental level.