In collaboration with the New Heaven Reef Conservation Program (NHRCP), Val’s Ocean Utopia aims to enrich the natural environment, boost conservation awareness and involvement, and add to the unique island culture and natural beauty of Koh Tao.
Valerie Goutard (Val), is a renowned Bangkok based French bronze sculpture artist of “monumental sculptures” whose works were recently exhibited at Alliance Francaise Bangkok, as well as the India Art Fair, Art Central Hong Kong and the CAFA Museum in Beijing, China. Val is now having the First Underwater Evolutionary Sculptures in Asia installed in Koh Tao, Surat Thani, Thailand. In collaboration with the New Heaven Reef Conservation Program (NHRCP), Val’s Ocean Utopia aims to enrich the natural environment, boost conservation awareness and involvement, and add to the unique island culture and natural beauty of Koh Tao. The chosen site is a protected and restricted area for preservation and regeneration of coral reefs, and is located in the south of the island. The series of underwater evolutionary sculptures incorporate the mediums of bronze, concrete and corals.
Val has created this unique new project of underwater artwork and has chosen Kho Tao to install the sculptures due to her having many happy memories and dives along the years on the island. This project will match her passion for art with her love for nature and the sea. Through Val’s artwork, she is able to give something back to this Island, while respecting sea regulations and ecological concerns, by installing these sculptures in the sea with the purpose of growing and regenerating coral. The sculptures will positively enhance the coral and underwater environment.
Val installing one of the three Ocean Utopia artworks
“With Ocean Utopia my wish is to go even further than that, I wish coral reefs to grow onto some specific areas of the artwork, allowing a complete and free interaction between the strength of nature and my artistic creation,” Val comments.
“This project will help to enrich the natural environment of Koh Tao by providing a substrate for coral growth and habitat for fishes and other marine organisms. The project will boost awareness and involvement amongst the local community in conservation projects, and add to the unique island culture and natural beauty of Koh Tao. Additionally, it will reduce the impact of scuba diving to coral reefs around the island by providing divers with an attractive alternative dive site. Lastly, and most importantly, this site will help to raise awareness and bring the message of coral reef conservation to the general public and audiences that normally would not be receptive to,” Chad Scott, NHRCP Program Director comments on Ocean Utopia initiative.
New Heaven Reef Conservation Program (NHRCP) team installing one of the three Ocean Utopia artworks
This project will help to enrich the natural environment by helping to grow coral reefs and habitats for marine organisms. The NHRCP (New Heaven Reef Conservation Program) will manage the corals around the artwork and Val hopes coral reefs will grow at will on specific areas of her artwork. These artworks truly allow for a beautiful symbiosis and a complete and free interaction between the strength of nature and artistic creation.
Val adds, “To remind us that we are shaped by our surrounding, the sculpture will be the starting point for growing new coral reefs, horizontally on the concrete base and vertically in the textured parts of the concrete architectures. I will define the original set up underwater and will then leave it to the elements.”
Photo caption: Crane at work installing one of the three Ocean Utopia artworks from Barge
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