The response to our 2024 Science Without Borders® Challenge has been overwhelming! We’ve been blown away by the sheer number of submissions we received from aspiring young artists worldwide. Earlier this week, we proudly unveiled the finalists in the 11-14 age group, and now we’re ecstatic to announce the finalists in the 15-19 year-old category.
These young artists hail from all corners of the globe, including Canada, India, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. You will be amazed at their incredible artwork and how well they captured the essence of the theme, “Hidden Wonders of the Deep.” In their artwork, students portrayed a variety of deep-sea creatures, such as anglerfish, strawberry squid, basket stars, Japanese spider crabs, oarfish, and tubeworms. They also depicted mysterious deep-sea environments like whale falls and hydrothermal vents. We were amazed by these students’ creativity, execution of the theme, and artistic abilities.
Without further ado, please meet our talented 15-19 year old finalists! These exceptional artists have not only showcased their incredible talents, but also their unwavering passion for marine conservation.
"Crabzilla" by Charissa Laurelia Nadine, Age 18, Indonesia
Artist's Statement: The largest crustacean alive is none other than the striking Japanese Spider Crab. They can grow up to a whopping 3 meters in width once matured and dwell in the Mesopelagic depths as low as 600 meters below the surface. They scavenge exclusively across the Japanese sea floors, crawling with their 10 impressive appendages. The daddy longlegs of the sea is either an arachnophobe's worst nightmare or a legendary twilight spectacle. A creature so grandiose compared to its smaller palm-sized relatives, they should be crowned the true "King Crab". However, not being the rulers of their own fate, the juveniles are often harvested as delicacies; it's no wonder that their numbers are starting to dwindle. This serves as a reminder to be mindful to our land and seas. Because who knows? Nature might come to strike in ways we can't yet imagine!
Stay tuned! We will announce the winners in the next couple of weeks.
