Structure
Senior Thesis - Spring 2019
As people become more aware of the environment and renewable energy, specifically using the ocean as a power source, it is becoming important to think about how this could be interfering with the ocean’s ecosystems. For too long, the ocean has been seen as a place for humans to dump harsh chemicals and plastics. Also, rising sea levels could engulf human infrastructure, turning the world as we know it into a watery landscape deep under the ocean. Instead of fighting against this, in this project, I embraced this natural process of aquatic growth. My project is an exploration into what infrastructure would look like if it were designed to be consumed by the ocean and aquatic life. I designed a quasi-mechanical-self-sustaining sculptural piece that will live underwater to benefit fish and oceanic plants. In theory, this mechanism could be used to harvest energy in a renewable way, but I am using it as a self-sustaining piece only to help the ocean and represent its power. For my sculptural installation, I used simple materials that helped to promote aquatic life growth to engulf the sculpture and change its appearance.
Research
Constructed a wave machine to simulate how waves operate in slow motion. I did many research tests to observe how I could harness the motion of the waves.
Background research, field notes, engineering, and ideation sketches.
Proof of Concept
Process
Final
This project is still in progress and I intend to permanently re-install it in the ocean at some point in the future. I will most likely be tweaking the design to withstand deeper ocean pressures and temperatures. If interested, please contact me and I will gladly discuss the future of the project/sculpture with you!