Tidal Ballet

Description

This artwork captures the fleeting chaos and harmony of a seabird work-up, a ballet of survival where countless birds circle and dive in synchronized frenzy to feed. Inspired by witnessing this spectacle at sea, I combined 3-D-printed forms, textured paste, and acrylic paint to channel its raw energy. The rhythmic arrangement echoes nature’s pulse; layered textures conjure churning water and glittering fish. ‘Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini’—my strength is not that of one but that of many. In the same spirit, each bird’s momentum relies on the flock, and each medium relies on the others. Together they remind us that survival and beauty are collective achievements.