‘Can't find Nemo :(’ by Liana Seeto and RB.

By dissolving carbon dioxide, the ocean surface has become more acidic. There has been a seven percent increase in acidity off the coast of Otago in the past 20 years.  This is also happening in tropical waters where clownfish live in a symbiotic relationship with anemones.  Ocean acidification causes confusion in baby clown fishes' brains and they find it hard to see, hear, and smell.  They end up swimming toward predators and dying far more often.  

The bubbles in this painting represent the lowering pH level of the ocean's surface.  Where the bubbles are higher in the water, the ocean surface is more alkaline and clownfish are healthy.  Where the bubbles are lower in the water, the ocean surface is more acidic and clownfish are dying.  It is becoming more difficult to find Nemo these days.

This painting is on up-cycled fabric, rescued from landfill.