Statement:

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As an environmental artist and educator, I dedicate my work to revealing the distressing state of coral reef ecosystems through drawings, sculptures, and installations. By investigating and shedding light on the main causes behind their deterioration, such as coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and plastic pollution, I aim to open a discussion surrounding human impact on ocean conservancy.

 

My practice serves as an invitation for the public to explore and comprehend the complexity of these vast biological networks. Through meticulous organization, delicate symmetry, and purposeful repetition, I bring to life the very essence of an ecosystem. Furthermore, I emphasize interactivity in my recent works, allowing viewers to engage and experience the ephemeral nature of both my art and the ever-changing ocean itself. This direct bodily experience establishes a profound connection between observers and the fragile creatures of the reef, fostering a sense of responsibility and acute awareness of this vital yet endangered ecosystem.

 

Drawing inspiration from the underlying structures that sustain the reef, I harness interdependence, diversity, and scale to cultivate collective empathy. I hold a particular fascination for endangered species and the challenge of translating scientific studies into powerful visual narratives. Recently, my focus has shifted towards promoting behavior change through interactive installations, encouraging participants to reflect on and acknowledge the immense impact of our actions on reef ecosystems. By immersing themselves in these installations, I hope individuals will carry their heightened awareness back into the natural world, inspiring concrete actions to protect the oceans, coral reefs, and the entire planet.

 

In essence, my work offers "dry dives," providing glimpses into the veiled ecosystems within our planet that are largely inaccessible to most people. By bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and artistic expression, I foster a deeper understanding of the intricate connections between human behavior and the well-being of our precious coral reefs. It is my aspiration that through this understanding, we can collectively work towards the preservation and cherishment of these fragile ecosystems for generations to come.

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Bio:

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Beatriz Chachamovits is an environmental artist and educator from São Paulo, Brazil living and working in Miami, Florida. 

Her work renders tangible the decline of the coral reef ecosystems, and the role played by humans in it. Her intention is to share the majestic beauty of at-risk marine ecologies as well as the appalling rate of their destruction. She works with ceramic sculptures and drawings to highlight the unique shape, form and texture that exists in the underwater world. She is the author and illustrator of the book The little handbook of marine fishes and other aquatic marvels (Pequeno manual de peixe marinhos e outras maravilhas aquáticas), published by Companhia das Letrinhas in São Paulo, Brazil in 2018.

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Selected solo show includes: “White Sea” at Galeria Tato in São Paulo, Brazil (2017) Into the Great Dying: Waters We Share" at Faena Art Project Room(2022) “Reversing the Tides of Change" at the Frost Science Museum (2022) and Into the Great Dying: Roles We Play at the Museum of Contemporary Art of North Miami (2023)

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Selected group shows include: National Museum of Rio de Janeiro, “Coral Expedition: 1865 - 2018” (2018) Art and Cultural Center of Hollywood “C[h]oral Stories and Collective Actions” (2022) No Vacancy, Temporary Public Art Projects and Juried Art Competition (2022) and FAU University Galleries “ SouthxEast Triennial (2023)

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Chachamovits’ work has recently been featured in Vogue Magazine’s Earth and Us section, Arte Al Dia and in the National Geographic Education platform, part of an AAAS grant to teach fifth graders about women in marine science. She was a grant recipient for the Underwater Museum of Art of Florida where she placed a permanent sculpture in their underwater sculpture garden as an artificial reef, and is currently a resident artist at The Bakehouse Art Complex in Wynwood, Miami.

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Links to articles:

LEWIS PUGH FOUNDATION - CORAL CHAMPIONS 

VOGUE - EARTH TO US BY SALOMÉ GÓMEZ-UPEGUI

IMPACT EDITION - INTO THE GREAT DYING: WATERS WE SHARE BY YULIA STROKOVA

ARTE AL DIA -  INTO THE GREAT DYING: STEPS WE TAKE BY AMALIA CAPUTO

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - SIENCE BELOW WATER BY DR JENNIFER ADLER

VOYAGEMIA - LIFE AND WORK INTERVIEW 

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