From Exploration to Oceans

After the change of direction with my project from the theme of exploration to then being inspired by the quote that "If you compare NASA's annual budget to explore the heavens, that one year budget would fund NOAA's budget to explore the oceans for 1,600 years."— Robert Ballard, Ocean Researcher this inspired me to develop research around the concept of ocean exploration.

Other quotes that really stood out to me were "The ocean's bottom is at least as important to us as the moon's behind."— Gordon G. Lill, Oceanographer and "We know more about the surface of the Moon and about Mars than we do about [the deep sea floor], despite the fact that we have yet to extract a gram of food, a breath of oxygen or a drop of water from those bodies."— Paul Snelgrove, Oceanographer. These quotes were the foundations towards the progress of my projects and have inspired me to develop a better understanding of oceans. This research has opened my eyes towards just how much pollution exists within our oceans. Through my original concept of exploration the findings I have found have been very upsetting with regards to plastic pollution,with media coverage releasing at least one story weekly with the warnings regarding our environment I think it is not only and interesting pathway to pursue but also a fundamental one to spark a response from my audience and evoke change through my work would make my work not only a success but morally satisfying.

The designs in this post are sketches to reflect the quick change in direction but also to experiment with quick styles whilst still capturing the essence of the animal. The last design with the octopus and balloons is to show a concept idea that could be used to reflect how animals are trying to escape the oceans because of the pollution or how the animals are having to adapt to use the pollution that fills their waters.

The idea of animals adapting to their environment would be an interesting mini project that could be labelled Plastic Animals. This should be researched visually by viewing the impact of pollution on beaches around my local area of Portsmouth but also through research done by marine biologists that reflect the adaption of marine life.