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Xavier Cortada collaborated with Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) scientists to better understand the impact of global climate change on our ecosystems. The works in the “{in water}” exhibition are inspired by their scientific research.

The prints from “{in water}” show how the artist explores the effects of abstraction on the diatom imagery, conceptually transforming the viewer into an omniscient voyeur, staring into the foundations of life. Prints from the “{in water}” series are in the collection of Florida’s Department of State in Tallahassee.

Xavier Cortada, “{in water}: J,” archival ink on paper (signed, numbered, limited-edition print, edition of 5), 12” x 16”, 2018.

$500.00

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Diatoms are water-bound, single-celled symmetrical organisms encapsulated in silica.  They harness the power of the sun to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and are responsible for generating one-third of the air we breathe.

Its shell, all that remains from the diatom that lived in the past, is used by scientists today to see what was as they research crucial environmental issues in the century to come.  Scientists—and artists—can determine the past salinity of water by examining the glass shells of diatoms preserved in sedimentary core samples.

Each diatom species has a different salinity preference, so changes in the mixture of fresh and sea water (driven by sea level and changes in water management) can be inferred from past diatom remains.

Xavier Cortada collaborated with Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) scientists to better understand the impact of global climate change on our ecosystems. The works in the {in water} exhibition are inspired by their scientific research.

Dimensions 12 × 16 in