SEA LEVELS

The world is at war. War biologically, politically, economically but most importantly ecologically. The destruction of the planet is rapidly increasing with each day that passes.

We must start to defend our planet against the devastation caused by global warming and raise awareness of rising sea levels that are breaking down the very earth we walk on with every tide. 

 Coastal erosion is the loss of coastal lands due to the breaking down & removal of sediments from the shoreline by the sea. It’s a natural ongoing process that has been happening for thousands of years & the transport of material away from the shoreline is balanced by new material being deposited. As global temperatures continue to rise, driven by heat trapping greenhouse gases, melting ice will raise sea levels and extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and intensify, battering vulnerable coastlines around the world. If nothing is done, half of the world’s sandy beaches could disappear by 2100 due to climate change induced coastal erosion and rising seas. 

Sea defences are structures designed for coastal defence against flooding and land erosion.  The Dolos works by dissipating, rather than blocking, the energy of waves and reduce displacement by interlocking. 

Throwing Bones II is an installation of 50 forms inspired by the Dolos sea defence, cast out of plaster and arranged in a random interlocking mass that responds to its surroundings. The name Dolos is derived from the Afrikaans word for the ox knuckle-joint bones used in divination practices by sangomas, South African healers. Also the bones used by African children to play the ancient game of Knucklebones. Crystacal R plaster which is known for its pure white colour, was used to enhance the Dolos bone like appearance. The Dolosse, piled up on top of each other look like giant playing pieces from an ancient game or bones that have been scattered for the purposes of divination. The white of the Dolosse forms catch the varying natural light at all times of day changing the work as the daylight changes. Henrietta wanted the sculpture to be a playful yet beautiful reminder of climate change and the purpose of these forms and what our future will be like if we don't take action now to prevent it.