"Dead Calm" is an original illustration depicting an iconic layout of ocean life affected by warming seas and acidification. Salmon, culturally revered in the Pacific Northwest where Shao is from, swim alongside a large squid, urchins, glowing stars, salmon roe, and arms of coral. Shao uses repeating patterns and symbols in her work that often double in meaning – a star or a comet doubles as a sea urchin or starfish, and a drop of ink transforms into a spray of seawater. A chain running along the top and bottom hints at a human element - fishing, industry, and living along breathtaking coastal landscapes that people have depended on for generations. ‘Dead Calm’ provokes contemplation on the interconnectedness of our ecosystems and the delicate harmony between the health of the oceans and the vitality of nature everywhere. There is an urgent need for preservation and restoration to maintain the biodiversity in the environment – to support the ‘flow’ of our Blue Planet.

Stevie Shao