Celebrating our planet through digital art
World Oceans Day is an annual celebration on June 8th that aims to raise awareness about the vital role oceans play in our lives and inspire people to protect them. This day celebrates the ocean's beauty, resources, and its importance to our planet.
To emphasise the urgent need for ocean protection, especially in Asia, The MeshMinds Foundation and Coastal Natives have launched an open call for artists across the Asia-Pacific region. We invited the artists to showcase how Asia is home to some of the world's largest and most biodiverse oceans, but currently faces significant threats from pollution, overfishing, and climate change.
These artists were called to use augmented reality art (AR.T) to highlight both the beauty of the ocean and its vital importance in our lives, while also shedding light on the challenges it faces. By leveraging cutting-edge augmented reality technology, our aim is to provide viewers with a fully immersive and engaging experience, inspiring them to become advocates for ocean conservation.
Creative advocacy for the ocean
The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface and supports a staggering diversity of life.
Despite how important the ocean is to our way of living, still not many know how much we depend on it and how close we are to losing the heart of this planet.
Our mission is to raise awareness about the ocean and inspire a new generation of ocean lovers and conservationists. We believe that anyone can make a difference in ocean conservation, and we want to empower artists and storytellers to turn data into emotions.
To support and encourage these creative individuals, Coastal Natives, Artivive, and The MeshMinds Foundation organized a series of virtual workshops highlighting the power of art in ocean conservation, the potential of augmented reality to bring art to life, and the role of storytelling in the metaverse.
AR.T for the Ocean's panel of judges included Kay Vasey (Chief Connecting Officer at MeshMinds), Kathlyn Tan (Co-founder of Coastal Natives), and Sergiu Ardelean (Co-founder and CEO of Artivive). They evaluated the submissions and selected the most innovative and impactful AR.T works.
Join us in our quest to protect the ocean and promote creativity as a tool for change.
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Explore the artworks
‘AR.T for the Ocean’ is best viewed on a desktop or laptop with the free Artivive app downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store on your smartphone.
1. Open this page on a laptop or desktop
2. Install the Artivive app on your smartphone
3. View the artwork through your smartphone
4. Record a video and share on social media.
The Silence
Hello Jayne
The Silence is a powerful reminder of what we stand to lose. The artwork showcases the gradual and devastating effects of climate change and plastic pollution on marine life and coral reefs. This piece serves as a poignant reminder that we must act now to protect our oceans and preserve their beauty and diversity for future generations.
Jayne Ong is a Singaporean freelance illustrator and visual designer who weaves cultural elements with whimsy, making them appealing to a wide range of viewers. She creates immersive illustrations that captivate and inspire audiences to act towards a better world.
For oceans to last forever, so future generations can witness their majestic blue, celebrate their mysteries, and marvel at their wonders.
⎯ Hello Jayne
Stranger of the Sea
Jamela Law
Stranger of the Sea draws inspiration from L'Inconnue de la Seine (The Stranger of the Seine), an unidentified young woman whose putative death mask became a ubiquitous home fixture in the Victorian era. The ocean's beauty is depicted through the death mask of a sea goddess, composed of various marine animal skeletons and coral reefs, ironically highlighting our ecosystem's fragility.
Jamela Law, a neurodiverse artist in Hong Kong and Singapore, explores the themes of culture, social justice, and the environment in her works. As an outsider, she seeks to redefine social norms and foster empathy in her adopted communities.
Coral Cathedrals
Infinite billows of Life
No more Carnages
Immutable Truths
Contemplative clamouring
Breed pearls of Wisdom
⎯ Jamela Law
Madness Behind the Beauty
Reem Chalak
Madness Behind The Beauty showcases the stunning underwater world and its inhabitants, including beautiful mermaids who seem to hold the secrets of the ocean. However, the scene takes a dramatic turn as pollution invades the ocean, tainting its enchanting beauty. Plastic bags, water bottles, and other debris contaminate the sea, and the marine life struggles to survive.
Reem Chalak is a Lebanese artist who has always had a passion for bringing her imagination to life. Through her art, she expresses her emotions and shares them with others as a hobby and in her free time.
May the ocean's beauty move our hearts, inspiring us to protect and cherish its fragile existence.
⎯ Reema Chalak
Once Upon a Time Under the Sea
Roger Ng Wei Lun
Once Upon a Time Under the Sea is a thought-provoking artwork that depicts a speculative tale of an underwater guardian responsible for creating all the fish. The piece highlights the natural beauty of the ocean and its once-vibrant marine life, which has been destroyed by human intervention through overfishing, pollution, and unsustainable marine tourism.
Roger Ng Wei Lun is currently studying at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and is exploring the intersection of design, art, science and technology. He hopes to create meaningful experiences that blend the physical and the digital.
I hope our future generations could witness a kaleidoscope of colors, dancing beneath the waves with grace and harmony.
Roger Ng Wei Lun
What if the Ocean Vanished
YongL
What if the Ocean Vanished? is a thought-provoking piece that invites viewers to consider the consequences of neglecting our planet's most precious resource.
The dying fish serves as a stark reminder of the fragile balance that is upheld by marine ecosystems, while the wooden boat carrying a moon represents hope and the moon's connection to the tides symbolises its interdependence with nature.
YongL, a photographer and digital artist, founded a small creative studio in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. With his passion for drawing and art, YongL believes that ideas that come from the heart and soul are the key to creating good work.
"My wish is for human to reduce ocean waste because the ocean provides us with yummy seafood and valuable resources."
⎯ YongL
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