Ryo Yamada's Sea-Level Installation 'In Vitro / Zero Metre Above Sea Level' at Edinburgh Art Festival 2026
During the Edinburgh Art Festival in 2026, Ryo Yamada, a Japanese artist, will showcase 'In Vitro / Zero Metre Above Sea Level' at Summerhall Arts. Launched in 2025, this installation highlights the anticipated rise in sea levels in Scotland due to climate change. Positioned at an elevation of 79 meters, it explores the relationship between time and space, transforming environmental forecasts into an immersive experience. The nearly eight-meter-wide and 3.8-meter-high structure features a ceiling that symbolizes a future sea level 20,000 years from now. Its large windows allow natural light to create a dynamic environment, fostering a conversation among history, architecture, and geology. The installation will be open from 25 July to 13 September 2026.
Key facts
- Ryo Yamada's 'In Vitro / Zero Metre Above Sea Level' is presented at Edinburgh Art Festival 2026 at Summerhall Arts.
- The installation is part of Yamada's ongoing 'Zero Metre Above Sea Level' series initiated in 2025.
- The installation is situated approximately 79 meters above sea level and maps projected sea-level rise.
- The structure spans nearly eight meters wide and stands 3.8 meters high, twice the size of its previous iteration.
- The upper ceiling represents a projected future sea level roughly 20,000 years into the future.
- Yamada hand-assembled the framework using pine timber strips measuring 21 x 21 mm.
- Stretched non-woven fabric diffuses light, evoking rising ocean waters.
- The installation is on view from 25 July to 13 September 2026.
- The In Vitro Gallery is approximately 0.72 meters above street level.
Entities
Artists
- Ryo Yamada
Institutions
- Summerhall Arts
- Edinburgh Art Festival
- designboom
Locations
- Edinburgh
- Scotland
- United Kingdom