The new work is sponsored by the PATA Foundation and is being created by Indonesian artist Eddi Prabandono who studied at Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta. The Marine foundation, a UK based NGO in collaboration with Coral Reef Alliance (CORL), Reef Check Foundation Indonesia (RCFI), and Bunutan village, Karangasem is sinking the sculpture in Jemeluk Bay Underwater Gallery, Amed, North of Bali.
The Underwater Gallery is a series of public art installations created with Indonesian artists guided by Rizki Zaelani, National Museum Curator to engage their artwork and spread the message of the importance of preservation of the oceans and sustainable management of the reefs. The Mermaid created with Wayan Winten and sponsored by the Body shop Indonesia was installed In May 2013.
Eddi Prabandono works explore themes of development and environment. This will be the first time the artist has created for the underwater landscape and the concept for the work has been influenced by his “Luz Series” which is inspired by his eight year old daughter and symbolise the burdens that we leave to succeeding generations, such as conflict, global warming and other disasters of the manmade.
It is for this reason that the Marine Foundation is excited to announce the project with Eddi Prabandono.
The sculpture is part of our ‘Living sculptures in the sea’ program, which addresses the issue of coral reef degradation as well as raising awareness of the pressing need to protect the health of our oceans.
Coral mines, bombing, and anchoring were common cause of destroying the coral reefs in the past. Nowadays, cyanide fishing, massive unfriendly development, overfishing, as well as climate change further deteriorate the reefs. Coral reefs are the rain forests of the world oceans; they are fish nurseries and provide natural protection for beaches against erosion. 85% of reefs are under threat from human activities and half of these reefs are nearly destroyed. Global warming accelerates the destruction, which in turn threatens the livelihoods of people that live in coastal areas by reducing the number of fsh and disabling the economic activities (over 60% of Indonesia’s population lives in coastal areas).
