Reflection

Corals are extremely sensitive to ocean temperature changes; our warming oceans have pushed these cyclical temperature changes to unnatural levels. This causes coral bleaching, a process that eventually results in the death of the coral. In the final stages, corals produce a chemical sunscreen to protect themselves and glow. Soon after, only their skeleton remains and they leave the reef a white graveyard. It is mesmerising to witness the corals emit neon colours and glow under the waves. I decided to use a light projection with glass to mimic the hypnotising beauty of the glowing coral. The three-part artwork copies the cruel beauty of coral bleaching by an increasingly beautiful distortion of light through choices to use curved glass. However, the price of this beauty is the life and vibrance shown in the first artwork by use of textured and coloured glass. This artwork asks whether our species can ever hope to selflessly and truly put the needs of all life on Earth before itself.