Joelle Cook- Whalefall Cyanotype

A whale fall is a biological phenomena in which the body of a deceased whale descends to the ocean floor and becomes home to an entirely new ecosystem. Other creatures such as octopodes and fish live off of the decomposing corpse for years. Scientists have even speculated that the final stage of a whale fall could result in the formation of a new coral reef. In this piece, that hypothetical end point is imagined, bridging the gap between a whale’s death and the full brilliance of a thriving reef habitat.

A portion of the proceeds from this one of a kind cyanotype on handmade recycled paper will go towards the missions of Ocean Exploration Trust and their projects with Nautilus Live. OET’s remote underwater vehicles have helped explore whalefalls and return to sites later to track the progress of these ecosystems.

12x9 inches

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