"Biodiversity" is a work that starts from a black and white photograph of a coral reef that I had the opportunity to take in Indonesia, in the Coral Triangle region, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. This digital photograph, printed on brushed aluminum, clearly shows the visual and textural essence of coral and its constructive power.
In this image, I painted three fluorescent green triangles, in direct reference to the Coral Triangle, an area in the Pacific Ocean that is home to about 76% of known coral species and a quarter of all known marine life. The 3 triangles, painted in fluorescent acrylic, cover about 10%-20% of the surface of the photograph to illustrate an alarming scientific fact: by 2030, only 10% to 20% of coral reefs could still be alive if global warming and ocean pollution continue at their current rate according to the latest IPBES report and researchers such as Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, a coral reef specialist and author of numerous studies on their decline in the face of global warming.
The triangles painted in fluorescent green not only recall the bright color that some corals adopt to protect themselves from the sun's UV rays, but also the fundamental role of these corals in the marine ecosystem.
"Biodiversity" is a work that combines art and science to raise awareness of the global ecological crisis. The choice of printing on brushed aluminum allows to play with the reflections of light, reinforcing the organic and living character of the image. By superimposing painted elements with strong geometric shapes, I create a contrast between the fragility of the coral and the urgency of a clear and immediate action.
The fluorescent green triangles, while visually dominant, only cover a small portion of the image, reflecting the scientific reality that only a small fraction of coral reefs will survive in the coming decades if no action is taken. This juxtaposition of abstract art and science serves to draw attention to the numbers and facts, while emotionally engaging the viewer.
The Biodiversity artwork was conceived in the context of raising awareness of the loss of marine biodiversity. It echoes the findings of the latest IPBES report, which warns that coral reefs, despite their essential role for marine and human life, are on the verge of collapse due to human activities and global warming. The report highlights that, if current trends continue, most coral reefs will have disappeared by the end of the century, directly threatening millions of species and hundreds of millions of people who depend on these ecosystems.
"Biodiversity" is a work that reflects my artistic approach, at the crossroads of art and science. It aims to raise awareness of the fragility of coral reefs and the urgency of protecting this natural wealth. By combining photography, painting and scientific references, I wish not only to inform but also to move, by showing that human survival is intrinsically linked to that of biodiversity. This work is a call to action to preserve what remains of the diversity of life on Earth.
