A

rt has been increasingly recognized as a powerful medium through which to raise public awareness about environmental issues. “Semesta Terumbu Karang” (Coral Universe), a freshly unveiled ceramic installation designed by American artist Courtney Mattison is a testimony to the rising convergence between art and the ecological movement.

The installation — which comprises 2,000 ceramic pieces in the shape of various soft and hard corals arranged into six circles along an 18 x 2.5-meter panel – stands on the wall directly opposite the main gate of the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) in Sanur.

The installation was created in a two-year-long collaborative process involving the CTC, a not-for-profit ocean conservation organization, the government-managed Ceramic Technology and Creative Industry Body (BTIKK), Jenggala Ceramics, as well as more than 300 volunteers, including local artists Ricko Gabriel, Alfiah Rahdini, Sasanti Puri Ardini and Agung Ivan WB.

The collaborative process, which saw Mattison flying to Bali several times to teach volunteers how to craft the pieces as well as participating in numerous video calls, bestowed both the artist and the volunteers with a greater understanding of the state of the country’s coral reefs.

“It is my first project that involves other people in its creation process. It was wonderful, we had amazing conversations. I believe the piece is more powerful because it was created by a large number of people,” she said.

Ocean life, coral reefs in particular, is not a recent calling for Mattison. When she pursued her undergraduate degree at Skidmore College, a liberal arts institution in New York, she majored in two subjects: Ceramic sculpture and marine biology.

Her works, including the recent one at the United States Embassy in Jakarta, are heavily inspired by coral reefs. Her diving trip to Raja Ampat and Komodo Island had introduced her to the breathtaking beauty of Indonesia’s underwater treasure.

“Coral reefs have always been my muse, and I want this piece to highlight what is there to preserve and why we need to act so urgently before the threat of climate change takes hold,” she said.

US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph R. Donovan, who visited the installation on Tuesday, saw it as a powerful symbol of cooperation between the US and Indonesia.

“[It is] a powerful symbol of the way in which both American and Indonesian can partner across different sectors to protect our ocean resources. It celebrates Indonesia’s coral reefs and the value they provide to Indonesia and the world while also highlights the threats the coral reefs face,” he said.

An avid diver, the ambassador spent more than 15 minutes inspecting the installation and admiring the intricate details of each piece of ceramic art work.

Indonesia is believed to be home to the greatest diversity of coral reefs, with 480 species of hard coral, or 60 percent of the world’s identified hard coral, found in eastern Indonesia.

The installation comprises the ceramic representations of more than 100 species of coral.

“Arts really have an important role in informing people about their natural environment and inspiring them to protect it. So I hope Courtney’s work will continue informing the public about the frailty of coral reefs and the imperative to protect our shared ocean resources,” Donovan said.

The installation was officially unveiled on Sunday in conjunction with the Our Ocean Conference and the celebration of the International Year of the Reef. An augmented reality application, the operation of which is triggered by the centerpiece of the installation, was also launched on that occasion.