Turkey | 2024 | Photography, Sculpture

Statues standing guard over the Posidonia seagrass meadows

How can art contribute to the preservation of Posidonia seagrass meadows and the protection of marine biodiversity? In the highly touristic bay of Bodrum, artist and filmmaker Mert Gökalp, through meetings with students, shipowners, and local cultural leaders, launches his Blue Exile Art project, culminating in a permanent underwater exhibition.

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Statues Standing Guard Over the Posidonia Seagrass Meadows

Art as a voice for marine conservation

The Küdür Peninsula in Bodrum is a key area for marine conservation. It is home to Posidonia seagrass meadows that produce oxygen, prevent coastal erosion and sustain many marine species — including the Mediterranean monk seal and the angel shark (a flat shark species), both critically endangered. However, increasing maritime traffic and tourism activities are destroying these vital ecosystems. Degraded seagrass meadows threaten biodiversity and disrupt the ocean’s capacity to generate oxygen — a process responsible for 70% of the planet’s oxygen supply.

The Blue Exile Art Project aims to use art as a tool for environmental advocacy. Through the creation of permanent underwater sculptures, the initiative seeks to inspire collective engagement in protecting marine biodiversity in general, and Posidonia seagrass meadows in particular.

Artist
Dr. Esra Sağlık, five local artists and five fine arts students from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University

Partners
Project Posidonia, Bodrum Maritime Museum, Blue Aegean Sea Rotary Club, Municipality of Bodrum, Western Zone Cultural Center, Bodrum Rotary Club, local shipyards and diving centres

Participants
Local artists, marine biologists, underwater archaeologists, boatbuilders, schoolchildren, university students and the general public

Agency
AFD Turkey

Sculpting a message of preservation

monumental sculptures permanently installed in the Bodrum Underwater Park

200

boats visiting the underwater exhibition area every summer weekend

inter-city agreement among Mediterranean towns to protect Posidonia meadows

Led by Project Posidonia in partnership with the Bodrum Maritime Museum and the Blue Aegean Sea Rotary Club, the project brings together local artists, marine biologists, underwater archaeologists, and boatbuilders to create five monumental sculptures of ancient statues and boats. Crafted from marble and stone, the sculptures are submerged in the Bodrum Underwater Park, forming a permanent exhibition that highlights the crucial role of seagrass in sustaining ocean life.

One of these sculptures was created through a unique co-creation process led by artist Dr. Esra Sağlık and five fine arts students from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University. The collaborative work also involved schoolchildren from Bodrum, who contributed to the artwork and took part in an Arts and Science Day that included educational activities on marine conservation and a visit to the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.

The project culminated in a public inauguration ceremony in September 2024, followed by the immersion of the sculptures and an underwater performance by dancer Ziya Azazi. Installed in a recreational anchoring area of Bodrum Bay, the artworks are accessible to divers and snorkellers. The initiative is documented through underwater photography and a film, amplifying the alliance between artistic creation and environmental advocacy.

With this project, the Blue Exile Art Project transforms the sea floor into a living gallery, encouraging communities to protect marine ecosystems for future generations.