Lakshmi Mohanbabu Makes The World’s Deepest Ocean Art Installation
Lakshmi Mohanbabu; an artist of Indian descent from Singapore is now the record holder for the world’s deepest ocean art installation. On 19 March, Singapore and Japan presented three metal cubes designed by Lakshmi. These cubes were put at a depth of 7 km underwater. The feat was a collaboration between Mohanbabu, local tech firm NuStar Technology, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
The event commemorated 60 years of Singapore’s independence (SG60) at Gallery ART NOW. Mohanbabu designed the cubes as a tribute to the natural disaster survivors. They were placed near the Mariana Trench off the Japanese coast by NuStar Technologies last December. According to a media release, “Singapore is now the first country to have an art installation 7,000 metres beneath the ocean,”
Lakshmi Mohanbabu artist claims, “With these two art installations, Singapore is the first nation to have artworks on the moon and the deep ocean. This milestone is also a testament to Singapore’s pioneering spirit and tenacity as we celebrate SG60 this year.”
The Making of The World’s Deepest Ocean Art Installation
These three hollow cubes (10 cm on each side), are constructed from 80 layers of extremely thin corrosion-resistant stainless steel. The world’s deepest ocean art installation is a metaphor for Mohanbabu’s iconic “Universal Language of Symbols.” One of the cubes was created using an NTU-patented 3D printing technology, developed by Assistant Professor Lai Changquan and his team at NTU’s Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP). This is the third collaboration between Mohanbabu and NTU.
Specialized cavities and holders were integrated into the Long-Term Borehole Monitoring System (LTBMS) equipment bay framework to accommodate the challenges. It was a collaboration with Japan’s Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). These were originally designed to observe seismic activity near tectonic plate boundaries. The LTBMS also provides real-time data for earthquake and tsunami early warning.
Additionally, an ultra-deep-sea camera system was remotely deployed to capture video and images of the cubes at these gigantic depths. Each cube in the world’s deepest ocean art installation showcases a unique design on the top. For example, NTU’s 3D-printed cube displays Dromenon outward, while the other two cubes showcase Primary and Nautilus.
The Symbolic Connotation of Lakshmi Mohanbabu’s Artist Creation
The cubes are a combination of red and white, ocean blue and orange, & purple and aquamarine blue. The contrast with the oceanscape represents the changing hues of the earth, the depths of the ocean, and the limitless nature of space. The red and white cube symbolises the partnership between Singapore and Japan. The cube’s design is inspired by the colours of their flags, a euphemism for the sun, stars, and moon, carefully crafted by Lakshmi Mohanbabu artist.
The five designs representing each of the five visible sides – Nautilus, Primary, Secondary, Windmill, and Dromenon – were crafted to resonate with global communities, establishing a deeper, universal bond by encapsulating nine existential elements shared by all humanity – Creation, Lifecycles, Colour, Shape, Movement, Direction, Energy, Space, and Time.
Professor Lai on the The Three Cubes
Assistant Professor Lai noted that this world’s deepest ocean art installation success can be proof of the “potential of interdisciplinary research.” He says, “Creating a piece of art capable of withstanding the immense pressures of the deep ocean is a testament to the versatility and durability of our technology.”
Courtesy – Gin Tay
Lakshmi Mohanbabu Artist Motivation Behind The Cubes
An ecstatic Lakshmi Mohanbabu artist said, “But beyond art, this project holds a deeper significance. It illuminates global efforts to mitigate challenges posed by natural disasters. While we cannot avert nature’s wrath, we can honour those impacted and highlight the collective global efforts to mitigate it. The ocean floor installation is a symbol of that collective effort—a reminder of what we can achieve when we come together for a greater cause.”
Lakshmi Mohanbabu, the 56-year-old artist from Trivandrum; now a naturalised Singaporean, made history as the first Singaporean to send two cubes into space on the International Space Station in 2022. She aims to have her artwork sent to the moon this year.
Lakshmi Mohanbabu’s Thoughts on Art
“Art has the unique ability to connect humanity across physical and metaphorical depths. With the Deep Ocean Interactions Project, we aim to inspire meaningful change highlighting our interconnected existence by bringing people together through a shared journey and purpose,” said Lakshmi Mohanbabu artist. She adds, “The earlier interaction cubes that had orbited around Earth in space will also be sent to the moon as part of a permanent art installation.”
Image – One of the Cubes designed by Lakshmi Mohanbabu Artist. Courtesy – NTUsg via X
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