The Vanishing Reef aims to raise awareness about the dire threats faced by our coral reefs and encourage reflection on what can be done to help sustain these fragile landscapes under the sea. Bringing out the beauty of nature, while also highlighting a heavier narrative of environmental issue prevalent today, the sculptural installation resembles a stylised seabed filled with diverse coral species. In the installation, only a small cluster of reefs around the centre is coloured, while the vast area surrounding it is transparent, foregrounding the effect of coral reef bleaching that is placing our marine biodiversity at risk, and at the same time, subtly hinting at the possible disappearance of vibrant coral.

The use of plastics is aimed at sparking a discussion on how plastic pollution has directly and indirectly escalated climate change and sped up the degradation of our coral reefs. The use of recycled single-use plastic bottle as the main medium also encourages the use of recycling and sustainable art making methods in doing our part for the environment.

Alongside the exhibition, there is a community engagement session, where participants learn how to create different types of corals using plastic bottles. At the end, the colourful coral creations were affixed to a plastic dome to form part of the existing installation, symbolising the participants doing their part to help our coral reefs “regenerate”.