The Final Reef

Abstract

This thesis and exhibition are a tribute to the fragility and beauty of coral and to raise awareness of the impact reefs have on human life and marine ecosystems. The ceramic installation “The Final Reef” translates scientific research on living coral, coral bleaching, and marine degradation, into a tactile, visual language. The work explores the tension between beauty and loss, rendering coral forms in their living vibrancy and alternatively, when they are bleak and bleached. Assembled to function symbiotically within the exhibition space, the sculptures highlight the interconnectedness of reef systems while expressing their critical endangerment. Through sculpture and hand building with clay, this installation encapsulates and preserves the delicate essence of coral reefs, capturing their forms in both living and bleached states.