THIS IS HER ICE SONG

PRESTIGE meets ZARIA FORMAN in Niseko to find out why the artist-activist-explorer from Vacheron Constantin's 'One of Not Many' collective pursues glaciers and icebergs.

- HAN MIN NG

This January, I found myself surrounded by the wintry scenes of Niseko in Hokkaido, Japan. With the famed ski town blanketed in snow, it was the perfect time to hit the slopes.

Skiing was not on the agenda, however. I was there to meet the formidable Zaria Forman, the artist, activist, explorer and a new addition to Vacheron Constantin's "One of Not Many" collective of visionaries who make a mark with their innovation and artistry.

Neither Vacheron Constantin, a century-old watch brand from Switzerland, nor Forman, a New Yorker, had obvious connections to Japan. The decision to host the interview in this country was thus unusual, not to mention the choice of a ski resort in Niseko instead of the cosmopolitan city of Tokyo.

By the end of the trip, however, I realised that Vacheron Constantin's arrangement not only made sense - it was a genius idea.

AN ICY BEGINNING 

Cocooned in Andaru Niseko's toasty lobby, away from the vast world of snow beyond the resort's windows, I had my first encounter with Forman's work, a large pastel painting that hung on the wall and a looping video that showed ice from three angles - far away, up close and under a macro lens.

Forman is known for her pastel works of icebergs and glaciers, which she uses to raise awareness of changing landscapes. On what ignited her relationship with ice, Forman explained: "My mother was a landscape photographer, so we travelled a lot growing up. She was really obsessed with finding the most remote places she could possibly venture to."