Sea Guardians (2019- 2020)
Our economy system and our planetary system are now at war (...) The challenge
is not simply that we need to spend a lot of money and change a lot of policies. It is
that we need to think diferently, radically differently, for this changes to be remotely
posible. (...) If we can shift the cultural context even a little, then there will be some
breathing room for those sensible reformist policies.
Naomi Klein
Despite their humble appearance, corals are a fundamental element
of oceanic welfare, and therefore, of the whole planet. Although they
only cover 0.1% of the oceanic area, they are home and refuge for
25% of the marine species. At the moment, the corals are threatened
by climate change, ocean acidification and unsustainable fishing
practices. If there are no changes, experts predict its extinction in 2050.
Given this alarming deterioration situation, in many parts of the world
a coral gardening process has been started to replace the reefs. Although
they could become one possible remedy to the coral crisis, there are
still many open questions about the long-term outcome of these new
crops. The series of paintings Nurseries are inspired by this current
restoration practice. Even if they have vibrant colors, those paintings
build non-organic, clearly artificial constructions. They are frankisteian
landscapes which remind us that even after the best recovery efforts,
the damage we have done on the planet has left an indelible mark.
Other paintings like Breath in and Breath out thematise the interconexion
between humans and coral reefs and their importance by the production
of oxigen.
The project Sea Guardians was originally concived as a research-based,
participatory artistic project, but due to the global pandemic situation
I focused on the painting practice that I could develop from my studio.
