PORTUguese man o' war

 Installation. aluminium, glass, wood, 2016

My previous career took part in the ocean. I was a SCUBA diving instructor and became a shark researcher in tropical countries. As it is an environment that very much still inhabits me, I am prone to making art modelling underwater creatures. This is a first effort into moving away from purely representational.

With this installation the viewer is invited to experience a peaceful moment in the ocean, floating at the surface with a creature called a Portuguese Man O War. Entering the space is like walking into water where light bounces around the space like it is a calm, sunny day at sea. This animal is known of inflicting severe burns with its tentacles which are here contained in glass, shifting unease into curiosity, allowing for a quiet, intimate encounter.

The main characteristics of the elements composing the scene is captured by the material used. Because the animal is lustrous and light I have chosen aluminium. The water's weight and transparency is found in the glass panes and stands on a steel base; a mineral that anchors it down to earth.