Littoral: A Ceramic Installation

Taking coastal rock pools as a starting point, Emily dives into their fractal worlds; discovering the intricate relationships that lie within, looping and folding back on themselves. These life cycles, metamorphoses and symbioses serve as a lesson on the limitations of individualism, and as the inspiration for Littoral.

Through this research Emily descends back to our watery beginnings and uncovers the materiality we share with marine species. Sponge like creatures living 750 million years ago are the organisms from which humans and all other animals evolved. Human bones contain calcium carbonate (chalk), the same material many marine species use to build their skeletons.

The work also gives us pause to reflect on our current impact on many marine species, such as the dissolution and mutation of their skeletons through Co2 induced acidification of the ocean.

Littoral was first shown in 2023 as part of ‘We Danced Until There Was Nothing Left’, Open School East, Margate, curated with Maggie Matic.

It is recreated for the Norfolk & Norwich Festival by Caroline Fisher Projects and the artist.