The Coal Loader, Waverton – 11 May – 2 June 2024

Twenty Thousand Leagues, 2024, kinetic assemblage, 35x35x25cm

This kinetic assemblage presents a miniature living room that opens onto the ocean floor. Viewed through small portholes, the underwater world enters the domestic interior, merging the idea of home with ocean life. When the clockwork key is wound, fish glide past the windows, animating the scene and inviting viewers into a slow, mechanical rhythm of observation.

The work draws on the sense of wonder inspired by Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, written in 1870 by Jules Verne. The classic adventure novel imagines the ocean as both a realm of discovery and a place of potential danger. Reflecting this duality, the artwork considers our enduring fascination with the deep while drawing attention to the fragile state of marine ecosystems today. What once evoked curiosity and adventure now also suggests vulnerability, as the oceans that sustain life face increasing environmental pressures.