The Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego in La Jolla has opened “Hold Fast,” an immersive art exhibit that invites guests to explore the impact of climate change on the local kelp forests through the lens of three local artists and scientists.

“Warming waters and giant kelp don’t mix. We have to be realistic about the outsized impact that climate change has on our local giant kelp forests,” said Megan Dickerson, Birch Aquarium’s director of exhibits and co-curator of the installation. “But at the same time, local people are doing beautiful things. This ‘Hold Fast’ installation posits that the actions of local artists and scientists can give us hope that together, as a community, we can make collective change as we also acknowledge climate trauma.”

Aquarium visitors can now explore a labyrinth of cyanotype-printed giant kelp by photo-based artist and marine scientist Oriana Poindexter. They can come face-to-face with local species via gyotaku prints – the traditional Japanese method of printing fish – by artist Dwight Hwang. Finally, they can peer into the tiny world of kelp propagation with Scripps Oceanography PhD student Mohammad Sedarat.
Asked about her cyanotype prints and photo-based art, Poindexter noted she had been free diving and photographing the San Diego kelp forests and their inhabitants for years before starting to create cyanotypes. “Cyanotype is an early form of photography invented in the 1840s,” she said adding, “I’ve always been most comfortable communicating through visuals, so the use of photographic tools and processes is the best way I know how to ignite interest and awareness for the kelp forests. Everything I do comes from the same curiosity about the ocean, and a desire to both literally and figuratively dive into what I’m curious about.”

Cyanotype lends itself particularly well to imaging kelp and communicating both the scale and the details from a technical, historical, and aesthetic perspective. “The simplicity of the process allows me to work at a large scale, which works for our aptly-named giant kelp,” said Poindexter. “The kelp itself has this beautiful transparency and texture to its blades – the leaf-like structures, which allow sunlight to pass through onto the paper a similar way that it does underwater, creating a tonal range and texture that is difficult to capture with a camera. The blue-and-white tones of the images are distinctive to the cyanotype chemistry and speak to the underwater environment.”

Dwight Hwang, when asked about the traditional Japanese method of printing fish, how it’s done, and what kind of visual effect you get from it, replied: “Gyotaku was originally a way of taxidermy for Japanese fishermen and naturalists. Instead of skinning a fish and mounting it onto a mold as was done in the West, Sumi calligraphy ink was brushed onto the surface of the fish and then a sheet of washi paper rubbed onto the inked surface to create a print. It produces a fossil-like visual that can be both mysterious and beautiful. Over the years, artists such as myself, have taken this classical process and tuned it to create more delicate pieces.”

For the exhibit at the Birch Aquarium, Hwang was asked to create three large murals depicting local kelp forests and the creatures that inhabit them. “I hope that the viewers will feel as though they are underwater and in harmony with their surroundings,” he said. “I have always enjoyed all things that were related to fish, catching fish, looking at fish, going to aquariums, perusing harvested fish at the market, etc. Add my constant desire to create art and gyotaku became the perfect marriage between my two passions.”

Asked about his involvement in “Hold Fast,” doctoral student Mohammad Sedarat noted it lies in “ telling the story of kelp forests from a scientific perspective, particularly concerning their response to climate change. The climate is indeed changing, presenting challenges for various ecosystems, including kelp forests.”

Sedarat pointed out that his work specifically delves into the ecological, physiological, and genetic aspects of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) in light of rising ocean temperatures and shifting environmental conditions. “By highlighting the scientific research conducted on giant kelp, we aim to raise awareness about the potential impacts of climate change on these ecosystems and the urgent need for conservation efforts,” he said. “Our goal is to inspire visitors to appreciate the beauty and importance of kelp forests and to take action to protect them for future generations. Through interactive displays, educational programs, and engaging exhibits, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges facing kelp forests and the importance of preserving these valuable marine habitats.”