SCULPTURAL OBJECTS: Future Relics #1-#4, 2023

To mimic the accumulations of moraines – rock debris, sediment, and soil carried, pushed, or deposited by glaciers as they move and melt – Emery fuses granite remnants with pure lime, a carbonation material used in traditional building. Lime has the remarkable ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during its production and hardening process. Once fully set, the fused lime remains chemically stable allowing the objects to continuously sequester carbon dioxide over time. Whilst the rate of carbonation and the extent of carbon dioxide sequestration can vary, lime-based materials have been known to absorb CO2 over the long term, potentially for decades or even centuries. Future Relics act as symbols of glacial retreat, underscoring the importance of looking to traditional tools and methods in our pursuit of mitigating carbon emissions.