Bert Long colors his.
Dale Chihuly fills his with neon.
Tavares Strachan doesn’t want his to melt (death arrested).
Neither does Marc Quinn, who made his from his own blood.
That leaves Jeppe Hein, whose work currently assays the puddle state in the center of the main gallery at Western Bridge, as part of its new exhibit titled Underwater.
In every way I prefer the Hein, for its modesty, rigor and purity. Next to it, the others seem to have dressed for a costume party nobody was holding. Truth to materials is an old-fashioned idea. When it works, it can still knock the competition off the board.
There was also this performance years ago, where the artists pushed a large block of ice through the city until it melted. I do not remember who that was unfortunately. I’ve seen the video. it could have been in the 70s even.
Michal-
The video you’re thinking of is by Francis Alÿs
http://www.artsjournal.com/artopia/2008/01/francis_alys_fabulous_fabiolas.html