“Sculpting Life, A re-contextualization of the living marine reef ecosystem” 2014 by [dNASAb]

on July 16, 2014May 12, 2023By admin

“Sculpting Life, A
re-contextualization of the living marine reef ecosystem” 2014
Thermal formed plastics,24 hand cast archival
images, 60 living corals, cast clear plastic 3d fiber optic
nodes,270 led’s,acrylic,fiber optics,reclaimed/recycled plastics, aquatic resin, live
rock, and a full marine ecosystem.

The artist [dNASAb]
uses mixed media to evoke the forms, textures, and colors of the
living coral reef, as well as the biodiversity of ocean life. A
seasoned scuba diver, the artist seeks to share his experience of
the underwater world’s perception changing power.

“The

living coral reef ecosystem only covers about 1% of the ocean,”
writes the artist, “but provides a full 25% of the oceans’
biodiversity. I am awed by the extreme degree of specialization
these species have developed throughout their evolution. ”

[dNASAb]
reproduces

the shifting organic growth of the reef by allowing living
invertebrates to fasten to the work, making the sculpture part
of the living coral it seeks to mimic. In this way the
sculpture- like the reef and its inhabitants-transforms over
time. With its ability to create, regenerate, and evolve in
real-time, [dNASAb]’s work reflects the corporate culture on the
other side of the aquarium glass.

Employing
plastics,

LEDs, fiber optics, and other media, [dNASAb]’s Aquascaping Project makes the
connection between the rich biodiversity of the reef and the
accelerating social and
cultural evolution of the world we inhabit on land.

*No aquatic life was
harmed by sculpture installation or presence in the tank*