A Giant Frozen Surfboard Installation Raises Question in Times Square During Climate Week NYC
A surfboard that traveled all the way to Antarctica is about to make an unexpected stop in the middle of Times Square this month on Tuesday, September 22nd in honor of Climate Week NYC. The Frozen Surfboard will take over Father Duffy Square (7th Ave & W 47th St) as part of a larger discussion on climate change, allowing guests to watch in real time as a real surfboard used during an Antarctic expedition slowly melts free of its ice encasement throughout the day.
The performance is part of the international campaign around Antarctica — Domain One, a documentary by Gauchos del Mar produced with A Small Company and accompanied by Fundación Marejada. In New York, the action is presented in partnership with the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), during Climate Week NYC, when thousands of delegates, journalists, and visitors move through the city.
Running from 7 AM to 10 PM, the striking installation will transform one of New York’s busiest public spaces into a visual reminder of the rapidly changing environment at the other end of the planet. As the ice gradually gives way, the surfboard will emerge, drawing attention to efforts to establish the proposed Domain 1 Marine Protected Area off the Antarctic Peninsula and protect one of Antarctica’s most biodiverse regions.
The film at the center of this campaign, Antarctica— Domain One follows the expedition across the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, where brothers Julián and Joaquín Azulay, known as Gauchos del Mar, sailed, hiked and surfed while working alongside scientists and conservationists to explore the region’s ecosystem and the threats facing it. The English-language version is narrated by 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, while the Spanish version features Argentine actor Ricardo Darín.
Both the film and the installation are dedicated to Antarctica’s marine ecosystem, including krill, a tiny crustacean that plays a crucial role in the Southern Ocean food chain and supports species including whales, seals and penguins. The campaign behind Antarctica — Domain One calls attention to the proposed protection of Domain 1, which encompasses waters around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. The proposal is being considered by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), with a decision on Antarctic marine protection expected later this year.
Visitors to Father Duffy Square can watch the frozen surfboard gradually emerge from the ice, learn more about the expedition and watch Antarctica — Domain One for free. They can also sign a petition supporting protection for Domain 1 through the campaign website.
The Frozen Surfboard has previously appeared in major public spaces in Buenos Aires and Rome, bringing the Antarctic expedition and its conservation message directly to passersby. For its New York appearance, the installation arrives during one of the city's busiest weeks for conversations around climate and sustainability, putting a distinctly Antarctic story in the middle of Manhattan.
The Frozen Surfboard
When: Tuesday, September 22, 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
Where: Father Duffy Square, Times Square
Admission: Free
Watch the film HERE.
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