Last August, tragedy struck as thousands of baby Emperor penguins met a watery grave when the sea ice, weakened by the relentless march of warming temperatures, gave way beneath their little webbed feet.
This heart-wrenching incident is a stark reminder of the destructive consequences of our rapidly warming world. However, it is not the avenue through which Zaria Forman seeks to drive change.
“I choose to focus on the positive, which is why I concentrate on capturing the beauty of these endangered locations instead of emphasising the devastation. My purpose is to inspire rather than evoke fear… The sight of something beautiful evokes joy and love. When you fall in love with something, you want to protect it,” Forman explains.
In the intricate interplay between artistry and activism, Forman stands out as a master. With each stroke of the pastel stick and brush of her fingertips, she brings to life the beauty of glaciers, the ocean, and the ice walls, capturing their essence as they stand as ephemeral witnesses to our changing planet.
We spend time with her in Niseko as she leads us on a 48-hour journey into the enchanting winter of Japan—a transient spectacle we will see less and less if the world persists on its global warming trajectory. At 42, she wears multiple hats as an artist, adventurer, and activist. She is also the newest ambassador for Vacheron Constantin, representing the brand in its latest “One of Not Many” ad campaign.
“We have this attention to detail and strive for excellence. With each new [artwork], I try to learn something new, and I’m constantly growing in my process. I also see that with Vacheron Constantin every time it introduces a new creation. It’s always trying to be better.”
Zaria Forman on the values she shares with Vacheron Constantin
Forman’s journey as an eco-warrior began with her mother, landscape photographer Rena Bass Forman, who, among many other things, taught her the importance of patience and perseverance. While she regularly accompanied her mother on assignments to wild and untouched places, one specific trip left an indelible mark: a journey to Greenland in 2006.
It took place right after she graduated from college, when climate change had loomed but was not yet dominating headlines. The four weeks spent navigating the frigid lands of Greenland and engaging with the local and scientific community in the region became her catalyst for environmental awareness, setting the stage for Forman’s artistic explorations.
“That trip opened my eyes to the climate crisis. I was also looking for something bigger for my work; a more important message than just drawing a pretty picture for somebody’s wall. It was like the perfect storm in a way, and that’s when I began to focus on climate change,” she explains.
Even as her art evolved into a potent medium for conveying the beauty of endangered environments, it was another five years before she started drawing ice. “Since my medium is soft pastel, I thought that white would be a challenging colour to work with… So, I started drawing water and talking about how the ice was melting. But I knew I was making excuses,” she says.
Her mother’s passing in 2012 prompted a focused return to Greenland, culminating in a cathartic spreading of her ashes over a glacier. It eventually provided the breakthrough she sought, enabling her to capture not only the melting waters, but also the very essence of ice.
Since then, Forman has embarked on frequent journeys to the Arctic region, Antarctica, and Patagonia to further her artistic vision. Her ventures have extended to airborne scientific missions over Antarctica, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic, collaborating with NASA’s Operation IceBridge to chart the earth’s ice alterations over the last decade. She captures these disappearing glacial landscapes using her camera and iPhone, later translating them into pastel masterpieces on large-format paper in her New York studio.
“My compositions tend to be huge as I try to draw as much detail as possible. I want to represent exactly what I saw and to transport the viewer to that place in time so they can experience what I experienced,” she explains. Through her art, she seeks to establish an emotional connection with her audience and ignite a sense of urgency within them to protect what is at risk.
In the latest chapter of her artistic journey, Fellsfjara, Iceland, she ventures to the legendary glacial lagoon aptly known as Diamond Beach because of the glistening fragments of shattered glacier ice adorning the ebony sands. Captivated by the ancient ice at Fellsfjara, which traces back to prehistoric times, she magnifies the intricate details of broken ice pieces to intensify the visual dynamics of a melting glacier.
These drawings assume a heightened perspective and take on an almost abstract quality. In some, magnified glacial ice stands out against charcoal to represent the universe’s interconnectedness; others show unique ice formations juxtaposed against blue and white seascapes to offer a profound exploration of the water’s diverse shapes and hues. Amidst the accelerated movements of ancient glaciers caused by global warming, Forman also offers a contemplative look at humanity’s influence on water, light, and geologic time.
Fellsfjara served as the backdrop for Vacheron Constantin’s latest “One of Not Many” Overseas campaign. In the pictures, Forman, the intrepid protagonist, explores the otherworldly glacier lagoon armed with a camera and her Overseas 33mm watch strapped to her wrist.
“My purpose is to inspire rather than evoke fear…The sight of something beautiful evokes joy and love. When you fall in love with something, you want to protect it.”
Zaria Forman reflects on the driving force behind her art
“I love it. It works perfectly with my lifestyle. It’s elegant and so convenient because it’s waterproof, and you can change the straps so easily. I can go from snowshoeing in the woods during the day to being in New York City in the evening for an art opening. I really love how versatile it is. I also appreciate the opportunity not to look at my phone all the time!” she elaborates.
While the campaign officially launched at the end of 2023, discussions between them commenced even before the pandemic. This partnership represents an ongoing conversation between two entities dedicated to excellence, innovation, and pursuing a better, more sustainable future.
“We have so much in common. We have this attention to detail and strive for excellence. With each new [artwork], I try to learn something new, and I’m constantly growing in my process. I also see that with Vacheron Constantin every time it introduces a new creation. It’s always trying to be better. Our attention to detail is also something we hold in common. Everything must be so precise with the manufacturing of these timepieces, just as I put as much detail as I can into every drawing I make,” she elaborates.
The value of time, says Forman, is also at the core of this alliance. Time, the main currency of the watch industry, is also an integral element in her work. It is woven into every stroke of her pastels, creating a profound connection between the past, present, and future through the ancient air trapped in ice cores and the ephemeral nature of her drawings.
As glaciers recede and ice walls crumble, Forman’s drawings take on a new importance: they become an urgent reminder that the world is in danger. The clock is ticking, and it’s imperative that we act before it’s too late.
