SHIFTING CURRENTS
Lisa Sewards, 2025
Coral reefs are often described as ‘rainforests of the sea’ —vibrant, biodiverse ecosystems that sustain life and protect our shores. They are a symphony of sounds: purrs, pops, grunts, crackles, and croaks: a hum of life. But these vital habitats are fragile environments, making them vulnerable to loss from a range of environmental and human interventions.
Above: Tread Lightly, unique state etching on BFK Rives 280gsm paper, 59x76 cm
Below: Coral Scent XIII, unique state two plate etching on BFK Rives 300gsm paper, 28x28cm
Building on themes of displacement explored in my 2023 DRIFTWO O D solo exhibition, my new works reflect on the fragility of coral reefs, a symbol of displacement in their own right.
This exhibition is inspired by my recent visits to Australia’s Ningaloo Reef and Lord Howe Island’s fringing reef. These trips, along with reef videography by Chris Van Der Spuy, and the calming and reflective sounds of Pete Pascoe’s rich piano melodies themselves inspired by the sea, have shaped the series. My aesthetic is consciously delicate and light, incorporating the use of fine art Japanese printmaking papers as top layered etchings in several of the works, yet my inky hues allude to the darkness within reefs. All works are unique-states and created using non-toxic polymer gravure etching plates and beautiful viscous pigments.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science’s Reef Song Project, undertaken at Ningaloo Reef and the Great Barrier Reef, uses sound to lure and attract fish to reefs in an effort to aid in their recovery. The major work in the series is an assemblage of nine etchings created from abstract underwater images. I have paired this with a specially created soundscape of a living coral reef, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the visual and aural world of coral life [1].
A Coral Symphony, 2024-25, multi-plate etchings and ink on BFK Rives 300gsm paper, 244x172 cm
Author Philip Hoare in his recently commissioned publication by the Tate Museum says, “The sea defines our weather, supplies our food, and every other breath we take”. It is a source of endless journeys and holds the delicate balance of life that sustains us.
SHIFTING CURRENTS serves as a reflection on the importance and beauty of coral reefs and a reminder to respect our environment and to tread lightly.
[1] soundscape audio produced by Harrison Sewards [al_dente______ ]