Water and Culture
10 October 2019
British multimedia artist Rowan Mersh finds inspiration in nature. He uses thousands of shells to create his mesmerizing contemporary sculptures. His experimental approach inspires him to turn everyday objects into works of art, with particular attention to the harmony of shape, colour and geometry.
Regardless of whether it is a wall hanging or an upright sculpture, his pieces take 2 to 6 months to complete. Mersh combs the shore carefully and collects everything from sea urchins to shells of various shapes and sizes to realise his visions. In addition to the diversity of the remnants of marine wildlife washed up on the shore, the cultural associations and symbolism of the shells and the traditions associated with them are also of interest to the artist.
“Take my works within the Pithváva series for example – wall based sculptures created from tens of thousands of dentalium shells, sustainably harvested along the Pacific coast of Northwest America,” Mersh told My Modern Met Magazine.
Mersh’s special use of materials invites viewers to explore the astonishing details from close up as well as enjoying his pieces as wholes. Although they appear to be uniform, a closer look reveals that every single shell is unique, but their subtle differences are only exposed to the attentive eye.
French designer and illustrator Mlle Hipolyte builds complex sculptures from vibrantly colourful paper. Her latest tree-dimensional work is inspired by coral reefs; the sculpture titled Coralium, which is almost one metre tall and 3 metres wide, was built using various techniques. The purpose of the work is to highlight the increasing fragility of the marine ecosystem caused by climate change.
British illustrator Mat Miller has produced a piece of art for the PangeaSeed Foundation to highlight the challenges that the oceans face today. His piece, entitled Equilibrium, was published in the foundation’s latest publication, with the aim of focusing attention on the vulnerability of the oceanic ecosystem and the rapid extinction of marine species.
The ocean is the greatest inspiration for New Zealand artist Ben Young: he has been making stunning glass sculptures that offer a new perspective on the beauty of massive bodies of water for 15 years. He grew up in the Bay of Plenty on the northern coast of New Zealand, and has been captivated by the clear blues of the ocean since his childhood.
Portuguese surfer Johny Vieira has been inspired by ocean waves and the eerie shapes of beached driftwood. Along with his surfing, he began to make sculptures using pieces of driftwood, and his pieces are closely connected to nature and the majestic ocean.
Australian photographer Matt Burgess spends hours in the salty sea to capture the diverse forms and textures of waves and to grasp the capricious moods of the ocean. He documents the hypnotic moments when waves reach their crests, or when they curl around as they hit the shallow seabed by the shore.
World champion freediver Guillaume Néry has produced a short film entitled One Breath Around the World, in which he presents the astonishing world hidden deep in the oceans on a single breath.
The unique stamp issued on the occasion of the Budapest Water Summit 2019, have been released by Mr János Áder, President of Hungary and Mr György Schamschula, CEO of Magyar Posta Zrt. (Hungarian Post) on Monday, October 7th, at the Sándor Palace in Budapest.
It is no accident that Christine Ren decided to call herself The Underwater Woman: she combines her passion for dancing with ocean conservation, so she poses her dance moves under the surface for breathtaking photos such as the pieces in the series Protect What’s Precious, which protests trawling.
The ethereal paintings of Bree Brooks celebrate the calm, peaceful aspect, the unearthly beauty of the ocean. The canvas paintings show large bodies of water from a bird’s eye perspective, interrupted by the coastline or boats swaying in the ocean.
Zay Yar Lin, a sea captain from Myanmar, doesn’t only capture the everyday life of seafarers – their struggle with the seas and the excitement of reaching shore – but also fishermen, sailors and the busy world of harbours, as well. In his photos, he places the emphasis on lighting, composition, the interplay of colours and unusual perspectives. His shots are abstract, still they also communicate stories about everyday people.
