Artist Lawrence LaBianca brings a sense of literalness to Herman Melville's classic literary novel Moby-Dick by creating an underwater installation that captures the main themes of the book. LaBianca creatively encases the book inside a glass box and submerges it underwater attaching it to a photograph of the book sitting on the ocean's floor. The project, entitled What Lies Beneath, speaks to the 36th chapter of the book.
The What Lies Beneath sculpture creatively looks at the relation of Moby-Dick to aquatic settings by tying the physical element of the book directly to the ocean in which the story takes place. The work features an image of the encased book underwater and harnessed to the ocean floor that is framed and then attached to the actual encased book while on display. The work invites viewers to think about the meta themes of the piece.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Underwater Installations
- Creating immersive experiences by taking art, literature or entertainment underwater.
- Interactive Art
- Encouraging audience engagement with art pieces through sensory and reflective experiences.
- Environmentally-friendly Art
- Using unconventional spaces and materials to create art installations promoting sustainability and conservation.
Where This Applies
- Art and Culture
- Opportunities for artists and cultural institutions to create immersive and interactive installations to attract a wider audience.
- Tourism and Hospitality
- Destinations can offer unique, environmentally-friendly experiences for visitors through installations like these.
- Education and Literature
- Enriching students' understanding and awareness of literature, science, and nature through innovative, artistic installations.
