Dr. Supanida Chantarin
Abstract :
This project presents the aesthetic value of natural beauty that is at risk of disappearing due to human actions such as commercial fisheries, illegal fishing, unmanaged wildlife tourism, pollution, and climate change. This series of artwork highlights the unique beauty of three sea animals: the Whale Shark, the Humphead Wrasse, and the Oceanic Manta Ray, all assessed for The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) (Marshall et al., 2022; Pierce et al., 2025; Sadovy et al., 2025).
This work employs Abstract Realism as a conceptual framework to synthesize the observable world with internal experiences and emotion. The artworks highlight the unique beauty of these creatures on a red background as an analogy of the red list of threatened species. The message is simple: these beautiful creatures are in danger. As a designer, I aim to use the power of aesthetics to save aesthetics in a straightforward way, to let people see up close how beautiful they are and why they do not deserve to be on the red list. With this hope, these often forgotten creatures can be seen and perhaps appreciated.
Objectives :
There are three objectives for this work. First, to present the aesthetic value of natural beauty. This series of artwork highlights the unique beauty of three sea animals: the Whale Shark, the Humphead Wrasse, and the Oceanic Manta Ray. Second, to generate appreciation for Biophilia—the love of life or living things. Finally, to raise awareness about endangered species that have been assessed for The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. All in all, the work hopes to be a mirror to reflect the situation of disappearing aesthetics, as well as to remind people about their own meaningful experience synthesizing with natural beauty and to help them realize how they can develop a mutually supportive relationship that benefits both human well-being and environmental conservation efforts.
Conceptual Framework :
This work employs Abstract Realism as a conceptual framework to synthesize the observable world with internal experiences and emotion. This is to draw attention and encourage artists and viewers to question reality by presenting familiar subjects in unfamiliar ways. The dialogue between abstract and realistic elements invites deeper engagement and multiple layers of meaning (Santa Clarita Arts, 2019). This work follows the “Threefold Approach” of Abstract Realism:
- A figurative depiction of a real-life image: I present the reality of the sea creatures—their inherent beauty in nature’s intrinsic qualities such as patterns, shapes, and lines—through a figurative depiction of a real-life image. It acts as a mirror to show the inherent beauty of living things.
- The application of non-figurative, abstract design elements: For the abstract component, I apply a red background to represent the red list, a non-figurative color for the sea. The red color is also a metaphor for the threatened species on the red list. The red background also helps us to see the patterns, shapes, and lines of the sea animals clearer.
- The resulting “gestalt experience” that arises from the tension and counterpoint between the two: A “gestalt experience” means having a sudden, holistic understanding of a situation that feels greater than the sum of its individual parts, often leading to a new sense of clarity and self-awareness (Smith, 2023). Gestalt therapy focuses on the “here and now,” meaning a gestalt experience is grounded in your present awareness of yourself and your surroundings (Smith, 2023). My artworks aim to achieve a gestalt experience by making viewers appreciate the beauty of the sea creatures while simultaneously inspiring them to do something in their power, even a small action, to help them. The impact of the gestalt experience is that the interaction between the self and the environment shapes perception and behavior.
Process / Methodology :
The process of creating the work concentrated on pondering the “value of aesthetics.” No doubt aesthetics are important. As a person who has been in the field of visual communication, I appreciate the value of aesthetics for work as well as for living. Looking back, and asking a question to myself: what is my main inspiration for aesthetics? The answer is natural aesthetics. Human “synthesis” with natural beauty occurs through a combination of evolutionary hardwiring, psychological engagement, and conscious incorporation into daily life, which significantly benefits human well-being. Humans actively synthesize with natural beauty by incorporating it into their built environments and daily routines (Kellert, 2008). As an artist/designer, I synthesize natural beauty into my work, either directly or indirectly. Searching for natural aesthetics to work on, I came across endangered sea animals and decided to create artworks to show their aesthetic. The reason is simple: I feel that I want to be a part of spreading their beauty and highlighting their situation, which does not get a lot of publicity.
Techniques and Materials :
This work uses a very simple technique to present the inherent beauty of the three endangered sea animals. Since this work follows Abstract Realism as a conceptual framework, my artworks were created from stock photos of the three sea animals, as the photos depict their reality. For the Whale Shark, I used a photo that shows its unique skin pattern, which consists of a series of spots and stripes. For the Humphead Wrasse, I selected a photo that shows its unique features: varying green, blue, and yellow scales, and distinctive “eyelashes”—black diagonal lines behind each eye. Finally, for the Oceanic Manta Ray, the first manta ray to be listed as an endangered species, it is known for its graceful and elegant form, identifiable by its wing-like fins and graceful movement, and horn-like cephalic fins. After photos were selected, I used Photoshop to remove the background, and adjusted brightness, contrast, and levels in order to see their texture and patterns.
Result / Conclusion :
My artworks are designed to present the three featured sea animals—the Whale Shark, Humphead Wrasse, and Oceanic Manta Ray—as stunningly and powerfully beautiful subjects. Crucially, while acknowledging their endangered status, the project deliberately avoids a narrative of pity or hopelessness. Instead, the focus is placed on rendering the inherent dignity and magnificent features of each creature, aiming to inspire a sense of profound respect rather than sorrow.
The high-contrast, abstracted aesthetic isolates the animals against the red backdrop, compelling the viewer to confront their unique patterns, textures, and forms up close. This visual strategy is intended to be an active counter-narrative to the public’s often-distant relationship with deep-sea conservation issues. By magnifying their striking beauty, I contribute to spreading awareness of their aesthetic value and critical situation, subjects that often fail to gain sufficient public visibility. Ultimately, the successful result is an artwork that functions as a powerful visual plea, one that I hope speaks directly to the viewers, motivating them to consider their personal role in conservation and realizing that these magnificent creatures are truly worthy of preservation.
References :
Beurteaux, D (2020) This fish is ‘king of the reef.’ But high-end diners may change that, National Geographic, https://marinemegafauna.org/news/giant-manta-becomes-the-first-manta-ray-to-be-listed-as-an-endangered-species
Kellert, S. R. (2008). Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life. John Wiley & Sons.
Marshall, A., Barreto, R., Carlson, J., Fernando, D., Fordham, S., Francis, M.P., Derrick, D., Herman, K., Jabado, R.W., Liu, K.M., Rigby, C.L. & Romanov, E. 2022. Mobula birostris (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T198921A214397182. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T198921A214397182.en. Accessed on 10 November 2025.
Pierce, S.J., Rohner, C.A., Perry, C.T., Jabado, R.W., Norman, B., Reynolds, S., Womersley, F., Robinson, D., Graham, R. & Araujo, G. 2025. Rhincodon typus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T19488A126673248. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-2.RLTS.T19488A126673248.en. Accessed on 10 November 2025.
Sadovy, Y., Craig, M.T., Pollard, D.A., Nair, R., Wen, C.K., Liu, M., Samoilys, M. & Santos, M. 2025. Cheilinus undulatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T4592A264488576. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-2.RLTS.T4592A264488576.en. Accessed on 10 November 2025.
Santa Clarita Arts, Abstract Realism (2019). https://santaclaritaarts.com/2019/08/09/abstract-realism/#:~:text=Reception:%20Thursday%2C%20August%2015%2C,About%20the%20Artist
Smith, E. J. (2023). The Gestalt experience: Holism in counseling and awareness. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 63(1), 45–60.