Sharks and Humans
- Book + installation
Acrylic glass (UV-printed)
Frequently pictured as highly efficient predators and notorious Hollywood antagonists, sharks are linked to strong emotional responses in the western media landscape and common consciousness. Sharks and Humans focuses on the great white shark as a flagship species, challenging existing myths and notions surrounding it while aiming to raise awareness of its often underestimated social behaviour and status as an endangered animal.
Considering the broader perspectives of the entertainment business, fisheries, mythology, tourism, and scientific research, the first part of the installation and book explores how different cultures and industries view sharks as (profitable) monsters and icons, commodities (shark finning), deities, thrilling encounters, and threatened keystone species crucial to the health of marine ecosystems. The second part is devoted to providing detailed information on the animal’s biology and behaviour, particularly illustrating its ‘hidden’ social life and structures with visualisations of swimming patterns used for communication. Using a combination of infographics and atmospheric imagery, the project aims to invite the viewer to explore the world of white sharks and proposes emphasising the beauty and elegance of the still frequently demonised animals.