1165mm x 550mm
‘Playing with Nature’, is an on-going project, aimed at raising awareness, and funds for marine wildlife conservation.
Originally, ten sets of playing cards were hand illustrated with sea creatures, including a reef shark, a whale, an octopus, hawksbill turtles, tuna, and a hammerhead shark.
The cards were auctioned to raise funds for a marine wildlife conservation organisation. The auction was really successful, with all proceeds donated directly to the charity. The success of the auction lead me to illustrate more creatures, and raise more funds through various auctions, including an exhibition at The Cube in London, as a part of Emerge 2010 at the London Design Festival.
So far proceeds from the project have been donated to The Marine Consetvation Society, The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Project AWARE.
In September 2011, I was approached by Ocean Lifeline to exhibit the playing cards alongside my ‘World Oceans Day’ artwork at The Keeley Art Gallery art benefit in New York.
Ocean Lifeline is a not for profit organisation made up of a team of marine conservationists, film makers, underwater videographers, photographers and educators, whos mission is to protect marine-life from environmental harm and human destruction by captivating the public interest in marine conservation through the creation of powerful imagery. Ocean Lifeline is committed to preserve the life of dolphins, whales, sharks, manta rays and marine life through a series of educational research, strategic campaigns and documentaries.
”The ocean’s lifeline is our lifeline. Protect the future!” – OLL
On September 15 Ocean Lifeline hosted the art benefit to help raise awareness of the shark finning epidemic. More than 73 million sharks are killed each year to have their fins cut off for the sole purpose of serving Shark Fin Soup. As many as 90% of sharks have disappeared from our oceans and if we don’t act now the ecological chain reaction will be catastrophic.
The “Save Our Sharks! Art Benefit” featured a silent auction of ocean themed works by artists from around the world. Artists included Ryan Keeley, Tasso, Max Nova, Rob Appell, Robena, Caz Haigh, Patrick Muñiz, Daniel Feld, Regan Kireilis Helms, Yarden Davis, Jonathan Davis, Kimyon Higgins.
On the same evening, Ocean Lifeline hit china town with their ‘Mercury Soup’ posters, an interesting take on Andy Warhols ‘Campbell Soup’ posters. The ‘Mercury Soup’ posters, detailed the toxicity levels found within shark fin soup and highlighted the various health effects consuming the soup can have. They were pasted up next to restaurants who still have the dish on their menu.
Following Californias proposal to ban shark products, Ocean Lifeline is spearheading the movement to get shark off the menu for New Yorkers.