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Lifelines
A sculpture featuring a new scaled drawing mapping the world’s remaining tropical coral reefs.
Exhibition dates: 28/09/2021 - 30/04/2022
Open every day: 07:00-19:00
Outside wall of The Proving House,
Trinity Buoy Wharf,
London, E14 0JW
Free, no need to book.
This artwork is audio described.
Artist Statement
Lifelines is a large-scale sculpture exploring issues of marine pollution and climate change with a first exhibition in London at Trinity Buoy Wharf as a partner in the Totally Thames festival 2021. This project has been supported using public funding by Arts Council England. And it is Audio Described.
The aim of Lifelines is for the public to become as easily familiar with the locations and forms of coral reefs as they are with the shape of continents. I am seeking to create a sea-change in people’s thinking where out of sight is no longer out of mind.
Coral reefs are the rainforests of the oceans. They are incredible, diverse ecosystems, and although they cover less than 1% of the ocean, they support 25% of all marine life. In addition to their cultural value, they act as early warning beacons for the health of the oceans, help to protect shorelines and provide food and livelihood for around 1/2 billion people.
Since the industrialisation of 1950s half of all coral reefs have been lost to pollution, over-fishing, sea temperature rises and coral bleaching. The frequency and intensity of these events leave corals with inadequate time to neither recover nor adapt and increase their resilience to these rapid environmental changes. Without urgent and significant action coral reefs could be one of the first major ecosystems to collapse as a direct consequence of climate change.
Links & Resources
Filmed interview introduction to Lifelines (5.5 minutes):
Watch on Thames Festival Trust website
Totally Thames 2021, festival partners:
View on Thames Festival Trust website
Exhibition location and a centre for arts and culture:
www.trinitybuoywharf.com
Open source high resolution images of coral reefs:
www.allencoralatlas.org
Film about my sculpture practice and techniques (4.5 minutes):
View on ART UK website
Film; How to make a wooden surfboard. Lignum Surf-Lifelines project partner, surfboard shaper (4 minutes):
www.heistfilms.co
Tom Stockwell - Lifelines project partner, surfboard glassing:
www.stockwellsurfboards.co.uk