Project delivers a creative dive into Perth’s rich nearshore marine environment

An art exhibition, described by its creator as being like a snorkel through the vibrant nearshore waters of Perth’s beaches, has opened in Cottesloe.

The exhibition is the culmination of the Living Ocean Festival which involved 750 people and comprised events including 35 workshops, community beach walks, biodiversity surveys and marine science talks.

The festival was designed and delivered by artist and science communicator Angela Rossen.

“I wanted to create the feeling of snorkelling over a seagrass meadow and a reef,” Ms Rossen said.

The exhibition, in a gallery overlooking the ocean, features prints, paintings and photographs of everything from plankton and seagrass to migratory shorebirds and fish.

“The focus of our festival was the nearshore marine environment,” she said. “This is the part of the ocean close to the shore that is accessible to everyone and it’s full of unbelievable biodiversity.”

The artist, who has a passion for the ocean, has worked with the Western Australian Marine Science Institution. She also works on community outreach projects with other marine research organisations and local and state governments.

“Working with scientists deepens and broadens my understanding of natural systems and I am grateful for their support with species identification and helping me to communicate the complexity and wonder of natural systems.”

“I am really motivated to get everyone, especially children, curious about and involved in wanting to discover more about how the environment works. It is by growing a real heart connection to nature that people will want to act to conserve and protect our unique environment.”

“In my biodiversity projects we begin with the smallest creatures because they are the building blocks of ecosystems. In this instance we began with plankton and single celled organisms like coccolithophores.”

“Most people wouldn’t give a second thought to these tiny creatures, but they are stunningly important. They are also very beautiful.”

Ms Rossen opened the exhibition with a heartfelt and emotional plea for people to become actively engaged in conserving and protecting the ocean and terrestrial environment for future generations.

“We can’t pick and choose which species we will allow to become extinct. Every single creature is a link in the chain and if, because of human impacts, they disappear then the chain is broken.”

“Half the oxygen we breathe is created by plants in the ocean, so if we allow the ocean to heat and acidify beyond a certain point we can say goodbye to every second breath.”

She said some of the workshops involved children from local primary schools examining nature under magnification then expanding out to conceptualize ecosystems.

“Kids are naturally curious. They love discovering nature and documenting their findings. When they first see tiny creatures such as plankton they fall in love instantly.”

She is also inspired to encourage people who don’t see themselves as artistic.

“A lot of people miss out on the joy of being creative because, for one reason or another, they don’t trust themselves to do it.”

“I find that people always surprise themselves when they look at what they drew or painted, especially when they see their work up in the exhibition.”

Angela Rossen was the inaugural artist in residence with the Heritage Collective – a creative hub in the restored heritage Werne building in Cottesloe. More of Angela Rossen’s work can be seen at www.angelarossen.com

The Living Ocean exhibition is on until 30 January at the Linton and Kay Gallery at 40 Marine Parade Cottesloe.