Art Meets Science

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MIX Artists art-science collaboration

A unique collaboration between WAMSI and MIX Artists Inc brought together contemporary art and marine science to celebrate and explore the rich biodiversity of Western Australia’s south coast.

Over the course of a year, WAMSI connected a group of south-west artists with marine researchers across the partnership. Through field trips, expert talks, shared resources, and self-guided research, the artists deepened their understanding of the region’s marine ecosystems and translated that knowledge into contemporary visual artworks.

The result was ‘Immerse’, a public art exhibition held in Albany featuring works by 20 MIX Artists. Known for their diverse practices—including sculpture, installation, painting, photography, textiles, and digital media—these artists used their creative voices to interpret themes such as:

The delicate balance of coastal ecosystems
The impact of structural change, including plastic pollution and rising sea levels
Restoration and conservation efforts to protect marine environments

The waters of the south coast and around Albany are well known for their unique diversity of plants and animals, as well as their productivity, and the works conveyed important marine science knowledge and current research from the region.

The exhibition not only showcased the artworks but also documented the collaborative process between artists and scientists, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at how science can inspire art, and vice versa. By bridging disciplines, WAMSI and MIX Artists created a compelling platform for public engagement, bringing marine science into the community and providing opportunities for them to engage with the ideas and issues around the marine environment that were explored in the exhibition.

Dr Jenny Shaw

Project Leader

Jenny Shaw

Albany, Geraldton

Climate change focus

Seeing Change: A photographic story from Abrolhos fishers

As part of a project exploring the linkages between climate and environmental change, Jenny Shaw collaborated with fishers from the Abrolhos Islands to document the values and challenges facing their iconic community. Their photographs and stories became the foundation of the acclaimed exhibition Seeing Change: a photographic story from Abrolhos fishers, shown in Geraldton, Albany, and Fremantle, all important WA coastal fishing centres. The exhibition, which attracted over 30,000 visitors, highlighted the impacts of climate change on the fishing community and was praised for its inclusive approach and effective communication with the fishers, community, scientists, and policymakers.

Science resource

Building Community and Industry Knowledge

This interactive report, including the ‘Seeing Change’ project produced by Jenny Shaw with support from FRDC and WAMSI, is a climate change adaptation resource designed to raise awareness of marine environmental changes and their impact on coastal communities. It presents scientific data and community insights through accessible formats such as animations, videos, booklets, and teaching materials, with a regional focus on Australia’s southwest, southeast, and tropical zones.