Thirty days on the open ocean is something of a dream for an artist whose creative practice is entwined with the sea. It was not until I wiggled my feet into some fresh steel cap slippers, looked ardently at the mooring ropes, and made my way up Falkor’s gangplank that the expedition I was about to embark upon began to feel a little less surreal. I pinched myself and boarded the luckdragon.
My name is Jessica Leitmanis
At 7.8 billion humans and counting, we can no longer ignore our sculptural influence on the surface of the earth. Equally so, that which is submerged is heavily influenced by the decisions made above the surface. Whilst onboard Falkor as an Artist-at-Sea, I am working alongside geologists, ecologists, and marine technicians to deepen my scientific understanding of the ocean and its role on planet earth. As a species, the way in which we connect, communicate, and implement our scientific knowledge, will inform the health of the ecosystem that we are all part of.
The focus of this expedition is to deepen our understanding of the environment. Ocean health is integral to life as we know it. As it so happens, the ocean comprises 71% of the earth’s surface. What we know of our submerged landscapes is far less. Whole puzzle pieces remain unturned. Over the coming 30 days, we will be revealing some of the missing pieces and bringing these hazy areas into focus with high-resolution mapping. Measuring the depths of the ocean floor or lake floors is called bathymetry
Equally important is that which is found above the surface. Alongside our wildlife ecologists, I will be observing and recording sea birds, marine life, and marine debris. With a clearer understanding of underwater terrain, ocean systems, and ecology, we can make more educated decisions relating to the protection of our underwater wilderness and the larger systems they support.
As the clock ticks out on this strange year, the team aboard Falkor will be ‘pinging’ in a new decade in the Tasman
Whilst unzipping a bag filled to the brim with my delicacy of choice—marine debris rope— I am struck by the magnitude and gravity of these disciplines. Creativity is boundless. Science is infinite. These are the things that shift the way we think about our planet—shaping how we care for her now and into the future.
I’ve found my sea legs; set up my workspace; the fun begins…