Troubled Water

Artist Statement

My chosen theme for this mural is the destruction of corals and reefs, highlighting the bleaching phenomenon that seriously threatens our oceans. As the sea temperature rises around the globe, corals endure more frequent bleaching events and cannot always recover. Once corals die, it’s an entire ecosystem that goes away with them.

My mural, painted on a 20-meter long wall in the market center of Nusa Penida, depicts a beautiful but also dramatic underwater scene. A female diver is seen exploring the reef; she’s looking at local fishes and healthy colorful corals. On the other side, however, life has ceased to exist: plastic rubbish and bottles surround bleached and dead corals. Pollution is another major issue on the island that I wanted to highlight.

I hope that my artwork, as well as all the entire Sea Walls Bali project and body of works, will raise awareness and have an impact on our oceans, even small, in this global change.

The Focus

Take Action

You can help save coral reefs by:

• Reducing your carbon footprint.
• Using reef-friendly sunscreen.
• Only consuming sustainably caught sea life.
• Being an ocean-minded voter.

Please also consider supporting organizations like Coral Guardian who are actively restoring reef habitat through the creation of artificial reefs.