Museum of marine life 2222 (MML)
MML creatively embodies the potential consequences of the Anthropocene through a metaphorical lens, envisioning a world in 2222 where marine life has been wiped out. In this speculative future, a marine biologist, confronted with the absence of living marine creatures, embarks on a unique project to construct a collection of kinetic sculptures that serve as a nostalgic homage to the now-extinct marine species. These mechanical replicas, designed to mimic the appearance and movements of the original creatures, are intended for display in museums and exhibitions.
They aim to educate future generations about the rich diversity of marine life that once thrived in Earth’s oceans, now only remembered through human memory and these chimerical recreations. This initiative reflects a poignant effort to preserve the legacy of marine biodiversity and impart a crucial lesson on the irreversible impacts of human activity on our planet.
Category
Storytelling | experiences | interactives
Year
2023
Materials
3D printed parts (PLA, Fiberglass nylon composite), glassware, stainless steel hardware, readymade, electronics
Client
VibranSEA, Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Exhibition date: Aug 2023 ~ Dec 2024
Methodology
MML revitalizes the ancient practice of storytelling through oral tradition, initiating each creature’s design with surveys that echo the “hearsay” narratives passed down across generations. These surveys are transformed into a comprehensive reference library, laying the groundwork for the construction of kinetic sculptures. The project amassed input from over 400 participants, yielding upwards of 2000 unique descriptions of marine life anatomy and behaviors, articulated in the contributors’ own vernacular.
The process then narrows down to creatures selected by 20 individuals, from which only four specimens are chosen for actual re-creation. The methodology for re-creation is governed by three principal guidelines: descriptions must solely draw upon terrestrial animals, the movements of the sculptures should reflect the actions most commonly described by participants, and the visual design of each piece is influenced by the prevalence of certain characteristics within the survey responses.
Materials + Movement
The primary goal of MML’s design is to evoke a profound awareness of the artificial, highlighting elements that are unmistakably non-natural and man-made. This deliberate choice to embrace a mechanical aesthetic draws a clear line between the organic and the inorganic, emphasizing the contrast through the distinct presence of engineered and synthetic characteristics.
Each sculpture within MML is intentionally crafted to showcase a form of chaotic assembly, with features such as mismatched body parts, missing facial expressions, twisted limbs, and exaggerated, unnatural additions. These elements, while inspired by animals found in nature, are recombined in ways that produce an effect both strange and surreal to the observer.
A key aspect of these sculptures is their mechanical motion, which is repetitive and unyielding, underscoring their lack of the capacity for adaptation or growth characteristic of living beings. This choice reinforces the project’s industrial and prototype-like aesthetic, starkly contrasting the fluidity and dynamism of organic life with the rigid, unchanging nature of the sculptures. Through this visual and conceptual contrast, MML accentuates the gap between the natural world and its mechanical imitations, spotlighting the artificiality at the heart of the project.