Many of Earth’s bodies of water are disappearing. The Aral Sea, in Central Asia, is the epitome of this phenomenon; a sea twice the size of Massachusetts has all but disappeared in only 50 years. Decades of short-sighted resource extraction has initiated a degradation of the region’s ecosystem with disastrous consequences, from species extinction to contamination of local crops. The impacts of this disappearing body can be felt for hundreds of miles and are dramatically altering the climate of an entire continent. In this installation, we bring tangible life to this large scale phenomena, so that the public may understand a body of water as a living, breathing creature. The whistle buoy gives breath to this creature. Its voice is spoken through a series of instruments, and important specimens are embedded within the instruments themselves, allowing the visitor to peer into the pipes and discover the different scales of impact of this disappearing environment.
Through the design of an acoustic and visual atmosphere, the Aral Sea is given a physical presence in the museum. This experience seeks to engage the observer and compel them to care for a body infinitely larger and more complex than their own.
Harvard Museum of Natural History - Fall 2018
Students: Kevin Marblestone + Emily Whitbeck
Instructors: Rania Ghosn
