“The prospect of learning more about Seaweed - it’s properties and potential uses, really intrigued me. My research has previously been bound to earthly terrain - to extend it to ocean health and conservation was literally opening another realm. It’s interesting to consider the ways artistic practices can adapt to the urgencies and emergencies of their times, as well as raising awareness of the efforts that are being made to forge a viable future.” – Emma Talbot, AFYO Artist
Continuing the legacy of projects such as Art For Your World (2020) and Tomorrow’s Tigers (2018-2022) - which have raised £2.2 million for WWFs vital conservation work worldwide - Art For Your Oceans is specifically focused on raising funds and awareness in support of WWF’s mission to give our oceans a healthier future. Vital for the sustainability of our planet, oceans provide us with at least 50% of Earth's oxygen, absorbe around 30% of carbon dioxide and will serve as a livelihood for an estimated 40 million people by 2030. Despite this, human activity is devastating ocean ecosystems.
Devised and produced by Artwise for WWF, Art For Your Oceans features 16 specially commissioned artworks with OCEAN INK® - the world’s first sustainable and fully biodegradable water-based ink, produced by OCEANIUM in Scotland from sustainably farmed seaweed. The use of this new medium by our Art For Your Oceans artists can help to highlight the potential of seaweed as an invaluable tool in the fight against climate change. Whilst growing, seaweed can act as an underwater forest that absorbs carbon dioxide and purifies water, as well as creating new habitats for marine life. When harvested, it’s potential is vast from a nutrient rich food that can be used as animal feed to reduce methane gases, to a bioplastic that can replace traditional plastic packaging.
The project culminated in a selling exhibition at Sotheby’s, London in May 2025, after which it travelled to Hastings Contemporary Museum. Although the exhibition has now finished, a few works are available for sale. If you would like to find out more please contact us: laura@artwisecurators.com
Participating Artists:
Max Boyla, Andrew Cranston, Laura Footes, Laura Ford, Anya Gallaccio, Antony Gormley, Nick Goss, Mona Hatoum, Lubaina Himid, Katie Kaur, Harland Miller, Beatriz Morales, Daisy Parris, Emma Stibbon, Emma Talbot, Caragh Thuring
“Our oceans are not only the home to some of the world’s most amazing wildlife, but also are vital for human livelihoods and fighting climate change. At WWF we are really excited about the potential that regenerative ocean farming offers in supporting the UK to rise to the challenge of meeting our food and wellbeing needs whilst also helping to restore nature and avoid catastrophic climate change. The artworks created for Art for Your Oceans will shine a light on the amazing leadership and work being done in regenerative seaweed farming, and the funds raised will help considerably in our fight to bring our world back to life.” - Mollie Gupta, Seaweed Solutions Project Manager, WWF UK