Ziyue GuoTurtles, squids, jellyfishes, corals, sharks… the list goes on. It’s not every day that we get to be up close and personal with these marine animals, so the latest exhibition at Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum, Ghost Nets of The Ocean (Au Karem ira Lamar Lu), has brought some stunning marine sculptures from the Torres Strait in Australia right to you!
This impressive marine-themed exhibition features about 80 colourful marine sculptures hand-woven from discarded fishing nets and recycled plastics. Psst, these works are being shown for the first time in a major public gallery, so you’ll be in for a real treat!
Time to let the pictures do the talking!
Squid
Fish scoop and schools of sardines
Hammerhead shark
(left) Corals; (right) Turtle
Just look at how detailed and intricately-crafted these sculptures are! Can you believe these are all made from discarded fishing nets and plastic debris?
Turtle
These magnificent marine sculptures were all carefully and painstakingly crafted by indigenous and non-indigenous artists from the Erub Arts Group. Hailing from Erub (also known as Darnley Island) in Australia’s Torres Strait, these artists draw inspiration from their identities to tell personal and cultural stories through contemporary art.
The turtle, especially, is of prime importance to the people of Erub. Not only is it a tribal totem, it is also a traditional source of food. Measuring up to 1.6 metres in both width and length, this turtle sculpture named Emarr totol is just one of the many highlights of this exhibition!
Every year, around 640,000 metric tonnes of fishing nets and ropes get tossed in the oceans. These seemingly harmless fishing nets drifting in the ocean can easily end up strangling precious sea creatures, endangering marine life and creating a negative effect, especially for islanders who rely heavily on the sea.
As cliché as it may sound, you may soon come to realise that we are all responsible for the ocean. As citizens of the world, we need to realise the dangers of marine pollution and actively make an effort to work towards better education and greater change. To do that, we need to first start reflecting on how we humans are impacting the ocean, and this is exactly what Ghost Nets of The Ocean is trying to convey to the world.
Other related programmes and activities
Tiny Turtles displayed on the lawn of Asian Civilisations Museum
Besides the main exhibition, there is also an installation of smaller-scale artworks displayed on the lawn of Asian Civilisations Museum. As part of the Tiny Turtles project, over 700 miniature turtles were woven by students from eight Australia and Singapore schools, including Bukit View Primary School and Pathlight School.
On top of that, there is also a series of fun-filled programmes for you to enjoy! From lively storytelling sessions and interactive drama productions to musical performances and gallery trails, these interesting family-friendly activities will allow children and parents to spend quality time together while learning more about marine conservation. It’s a win-win situation!
And here’s the best part: Admission is FREE for all Singaporeans and permanent residents! So what are you waiting for? Hurry down to Asian Civilisations Museum for a wonderfully enriching time at this marine-themed exhibition!
When: 1 June to 6 August 2017
Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10am to 7pm (to 9pm on Friday)
Brought to you by Asian Civilisations Museum.
