Commissioned by EEA for the Thamesmead Light Trail in November 2021, Instafrost is a light sculpture crafted from locally sourced natural and recycled materials—willow branches from Somerset and a reclaimed parachute from a skydiving school in Sussex.

Instafrost takes the shape of a dripping steppe horse, symbolizing the thawing of permafrost in regions such as Alaska, Siberia, the Tibetan Plateau, Canada, Scandinavia, Greenland, and Russia.

Using reclaimed and natural materials was essential to create Instafrost, as was the final choice of a white parachute over the initially planned striped version. The parachute allows the sculpture to “breathe” with the November cold breeze, imparting a ghostly aura to Instafrost.

Instafrost, Thamesmead Light Trail November 2021. Willow Branches, reclaimed parachute, LED strips.

Making , from top left to bottom right :1 Electrical diagram, 2 Willow weaving, 3 Parachute, 4 Willow structure, 5 Light test, 6 Installation day.