These sculptural works are from the “Earth, Air, Fire and Water” Collection of the series INFERNO. Like previous projects, INFERNO is research-base. This collection exposes objectively measurable aspects of climate changes such as retreating glaciers, unprecedented wildfires, soaring temperatures, melting polar ice, and rising sea levels. INFERNO is data driven. Although the works are abstract, they are accurate representations of scientific records.
Inferno (2025) from the series of the same name; Acrylic Sculpture; 16 x 30 ½ x 3 in.
“Inferno” is fabricated from 18 pieces, each of a different height. These represent the air temperature (global 2M mean temperature) for every third year from 1975 to 2023 inclusive. In addition, the tallest bar represents 2024, the hottest year on record.
Athabasca (2025) from the series INFERNO; Acrylic Sculpture; 9 ½ x 33 x 2 ¼ in.
“Athabasca” is a modular sculpture consisting of 12 separate pieces. The first three reference the extent of the glacier before record-keeping began, in 1850 and in 1875. The six middle pieces allude to the 1.5 km retreat of the glacier over the past 125 years, from 1900 to 2025. The last three sections symbolize the anticipated retreat between now and 2100. It is predicted that the Athabasca Glacier will completely vanish by the end of this century.
Peyto Glacier (2024) from the series INFERNO; Acrylic Sculpture; 11 ¾ x 18 ½ x 4 in.
“Peyto Glacier” is fabricated from 27 separate pieces, each of a different height. These represent the cumulative mass balance of this Canadian reference glacier for the years 1996 through 2022 (relative to 1995).
Mountain Glacier (2024) from the series INFERNO; Acrylic Sculpture; 12 ¼ x 12 x 5 in.
“Mountain Glacier” is fabricated from 30 separate pieces, each of a different height. These represent the annual retreat of world glaciers (glacier mass balance) from 1994 to 2023.
Wildfire (2024) from the series INFERNO; Acrylic Sculpture; 15 1/4 x 5 x 5 in.
“Wildfire” is fabricated from 25 separate pieces, each of a different height. These represent the area burned by wildfires in Canada during the worst 25 years of the last 40. The highest bar represents 2023, when wildfires burned more than double the area of any year since 1983.
Arctic Ice 2 (2024) from the series INFERNO; Acrylic Sculpture; 13 ½ x 11 ½ x 1 ½ in.
“Arctic Ice 2” is fabricated from 35 separate pieces, each of a different height. These represent the extent of multiyear ice in the Arctic for the years 1989 through 2023.
Sea Level 2 (2024) from the series INFERNO; Acrylic Sculpture; 11 ½ x 14 x 3 in.
“Sea Level 2” is fabricated from 31 separate pieces, each of a different height. These represent the rising global mean sea level for the years 1993 through 2023.
Arctic Ice (2024) from the series INFERNO; Acrylic Sculpture; 13 1/2 x 9 3/8 x 1 1/2 in.
“Arctic Ice” is fabricated from 35 separate pieces, each of a different height. These represent the extent of multiyear ice in the Arctic for the years 1989 through 2023.
Sea Level (2024) from the series INFERNO; Acrylic Sculpture; 11 1/4 x 11 x 3 in.
“Sea Level” is fabricated from 30 separate pieces, each of a different height. These represent the global mean sea level for the years 1994 through 2023.
Elevation (2024) a transition piece; Acrylic Sculpture 7 5/8 x 11 7/8 x 9 in.
“Elevation” is Leslie Hossack’s first three-dimensional work. It is a celebration of her ongoing study of colour and her abiding interest in architecture. This transition piece is fabricated from nine “towers” of different heights. The base inside each tower is a different colour – colours inspired by the personal palette Hossack created for her recent series CONSTRUCTED RECOLLECTION.
“Elevation” provides a bridge from CONSTRUCTED RECOLLECTION to Hossack’s new series INFERNO.