Get ready to be inspired! The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is delighted to reveal the finalists of the 2023 Science Without Borders® Challenge. This year’s theme is “The Sixth Extinction,” and we challenged young artists from around the world to create a piece of artwork that highlights the beauty and importance of a marine species that are on the brink of extinction. We are thrilled with the entries that we received!
Over 1,200 entries flooded in from 67 different countries, and let us tell you, it was no easy feat to choose the finalists. But after much deliberation, our judges have selected finalists whose exceptional artwork surpassed all expectations in terms of creativity, originality, and adherence to the theme.
The submissions were simply breathtaking, and we can’t wait for you to see them. So, without further ado, here are the finalists for Ages 11-14 of the 2023 Science Without Borders® Challenge. These talented artists will leave you in awe with their remarkable creations that bring attention to the urgency of preserving our treasured marine species.
"Possible Futures” by Vedha Athmanathan, Age 13, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
ARTIST'S STATEMENT: Human activity has induced the ascent of the sixth extinction through exploitation of earth’s resources. Unfortunately, marine life is not exempt from the consequences. The warming of the oceans has led to dire ramifications such as loss of marine species and coral reefs. In my painting, I have depicted two different possible futures. One illustrates a sea turtle surrounded by a thriving marine ecosystem, as opposed to the other, in which the same sea turtle is trapped in contaminated water. Light shines down on to our idealistic view of the sea portraying hope and serenity, in stark contrast to our reality where darkness blankets the water symbolising hurt and despair. The viewer is looking at these futures through sub-marine windows, taking shelter in a man made structure. This demonstrates our separation to what is happening outside mirroring our current denial of the harmful effects of human activity.
