Coral

The Great Barrier Reef, home to a paramount ecosystem within the Pacific Ocean, is experiencing the worst bleaching event in history, due to the rising water temperatures from global warming. This bleaching occurs when the waters surrounding reefs reach abnormally high temperatures for sustained amounts of time. This heat stresses coral to expel symbiotic algae that provides food and color, turning the coral white. This sculpture is inspired by the bleached barrier reefs that have fallen victim to humanity’s capitalistic waste. The piece was glazed with an underglazing technique, bubble glazing, as a motif for the ocean. The black and white color palette is reminiscent of the dying coral, bleached white from the rising sea temperatures. This piece is a reminder of the loss among the oceans as a result of our neglect and insufficient efforts to reverse global warming.

Ceramic
15.25" H 13.5" L 7" W