PAVONA (Coral Maze) is an immersive public installation made entirely from recycled fishing nets.
Composed of 38 individual modules, the work forms an open labyrinth measuring 32 × 34 meters—the exact dimensions of the largest coral ever discovered, a Pavona clavus identified in November 2024 in the Solomon Islands. This monumental coral, which has survived against all odds for centuries, stands as both a symbol of resilience and a reminder of the fragility of marine ecosystems. By translating this living structure into a walkable environment, PAVONA transforms a scientific discovery into a shared human experience.
The installation, made from 2 tonnes of recycled fishing nets and more than 8 kilometers of recycled rope, invites visitors to move freely through winding corridors of suspended netting. There is no predetermined route or single destination. This open structure reflects the complexity of the choices humanity faces in response to the environmental crisis. Which path will we choose, individually and collectively?
The nets used to create the work were abandoned, lost or discarded at sea. Once instruments of extraction, they have been transformed into a space for reflection and awareness. Their transparency evokes the gradual disappearance of marine life, while their woven patterns echo the intricate architecture of coral colonies.
Installed in Örebro, Sweden, PAVONA creates a dialogue between two distant yet interconnected marine realities. The discovery of the giant Pavona clavus in the Solomon Islands offers a rare story of hope—proof that nature can still surprise us with extraordinary resilience. At the same time, Sweden is home to some of the most vulnerable coral reefs in the world in the Koster Sea. The Swedish corals are part of the world's northernmost cold-water coral reefs and they remain increasingly vulnerable to climate change and human activity. By bringing the form of a thriving tropical coral into a Nordic landscape, the installation reminds us that the future of coral ecosystems is a shared global responsibility. Hope and vulnerability coexist, and the survival of these living architectures depends on the choices we make today.
First conceived for Örebro, PAVONA is in the future intended to travel to other countries and coastal regions where marine ecosystems are under threat, creating new connections between places that may seem distant but share the same ocean and the same responsibility for its future. With each new installation, the work expands this network of shared stewardship, linking communities through a common commitment to protecting marine life.
As visitors navigate the labyrinth, they become part of the work, much like fish moving through a coral reef. Walking through PAVONA offers a different way of encountering the ocean—one that reminds us these ecosystems are neither distant nor disconnected from our own lives, but essential living structures whose future is inseparable from our own.
