Undercurrents: Art and Ocean in Africa and the Pacific is an interdisciplinary and international research project showcasing the creative outputs of eight community-based art projects that surface cultural and emotional connections with the ocean in Ghana, South Africa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea.
The project recontextualises the ocean as a space that unites communities and countries to reveal inherent common themes. From the tides of the Pacific to the currents of Africa, the sea is regarded as a sacred place of identity, nurture, healing, spirits and ancestors. Each featured artwork embodies locally self-determined priorities, values and aesthetics that reflect the socio-cultural circumstances of their production.
The exhibition is presented in association with One Ocean Hub, an international programme of collaborative research promoting fair and inclusive decision-making for a healthy ocean, whereby people and the planet flourish. The programme integrates diverse knowledge systems by facilitating equitable transdisciplinary collaborations between academics, coastal communities, civil society, international organisations and decision-makers.
The eight community-based art projects featured in Undercurrents have been commissioned through the Hub's Deep Emotional Engagement Programme (DEEP) Fund, which supports the practice of independent artists and grassroots organisations to prioritise marginalised voices in global debates about marine policies and governance. The DEEP Fund directly benefits individuals, groups and organisations to boost livelihoods and encourage artistic autonomy.
Undercurrents: Art and Ocean in Africa and the Pacific is led by Prof Stuart Jeffrey (Professor of Digital Heritage, School of Simulation and Visualisation, The Glasgow School of Art, and co-lead of the DEEP Fund) and supported by Dr Lisa McDonald (Post-Doctoral Research Associate, School of Simulation and Visualisation, The Glasgow School of Art, and DEEP Fund Programme Manager).
One Ocean Hub works to promote fair and inclusive decision-making for a healthy ocean, whereby people and the planet flourish. The programme of research integrates diverse knowledge systems by facilitating equitable transdisciplinary collaborations between academics, coastal communities, civil society, international organisations and decision-makers. The Hub is funded by United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) One Ocean Hub (Grant Ref: NE/S008950/1).