IT'S IN THE CLOUD

painted altered books

14 FT x 30 FT

It’s in the Cloud is an installation that provokes examination of our evolving relationship with the storage of knowledge, be it in books or bytes. The covers of dismantled books are presented in a stark whitewash, representing the migration of their once tangible information into the abstraction of “the Cloud.” In today’s cultural vernacular, “the Cloud” is a term often used casually and ubiquitously, its omnipresence taken for granted. Yet, the concept of the Cloud also comes with a sense of discomfort and distrust due to its insubstantial nature. This existential push and pull masks a complex web of serious concerns: the devastating carbon footprint associated with these digital infrastructures, the looming threat of cyber-attacks that have the potential to manipulate or destroy vital information, and the inherent fragility of a market valued at a staggering $150 billion. This installation invites viewers to reflect on the implications of our reliance on digital storage, the fragility of the knowledge we entrust to these invisible systems, and the environmental and financial impact of their existence. 

Understanding Cloud technology, its benefits, and threats:

· The Cloud now has a greater carbon footprint than the airline industry. A single data center can consume the equivalent electricity of 50,000 homes.

· The cloud applications market is worth over $150 billion

· 200 ZB of data will be stored in the cloud by 2025

· 60% of the world’s corporate data is stored in the cloud

· Cloud data centers account for 3% of the world’s energy consumption

· Cloud infrastructure services generate $178 billion per year in revenue

· 90% of large enterprises have adopted a multi-cloud infrastructure

· Enterprises use an average of 2.6 public and 2.7 private clouds

—2024 Cloud Computing Stats

The environmental effects of cloud computing are far reaching, but there are a few noteworthy ways it affects our planet. Heat is the primary waste product of computation. It’s produced 24/7 and must be abated with air conditioning. For data centers, cooling accounts for 40% of energy usage. The electricity required to power servers and keep them cool is staggering—which is why the cloud now has a greater carbon footprint than the airline industry. The average data center uses roughly the same amount of electricity as 50,000 homes.  

—MIT, Steven Gonzalez Monserrate