Song of the Corals | A new and original exhibition

Song of the Corals | A scientific and artistic journey with  the artist Tzuri Gueta – a new and original exhibition at the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History.

The coral reef is a complex ecosystem full of vitality and motion, which is constantly being shaped and undergoing change due to the interactions that develop between the creatures populating it and years-long evolutionary processes.

Incredibly, the infrastructure of this complex system, which is in fact the largest biological structure on the earth, is produced by simple animals—stony corals: they are the architects, engineers, and artists who build the reef and breathe life into it. This exhibition brings to center stage the fascinating story of the stony corals and the way they build the reef, slowly but surely over thousands of years, while coping with threats, dangers and countless disturbances. Understanding the basic biological processes that produce the complex web of life on the reef exposes us to the damages sustained by the stony corals and the entire reef in recent years, and clarifies why and how we must protect this unique habitat.

 

The exhibition “Song of the Corals” invites visitors to experience the underwater world and be amazed by it, contemplate the beauty of the coral reef and marvel at the complexity and uniqueness of this important habitat, which is usually completely hidden from view.

The artistic work of Tzuri Gueta, which was produced specifically for this exhibition, seeks to intensify the experience. The display is affected by and follows the beauty, form and texture of the coral reef and its inhabitants, complementing the amazing experience that accompanies those who dive down among the corals.

This work was created as a contemplation on the complexity, beauty and fragility of the natural world underwater; a parallel universe, hidden from the eye, secretive and alluring, which showcases unique creatures, breathtaking landscapes and fascinating natural phenomena. The work is a beating heart at the center of the exhibition space; visitors are invited to enter it, move around inside it, become part of it and discover meditative, hypnotic beauty, similar to diving to the depths of the sea among coral reefs.

Dr. Tom Shlesinger, researcher and underwater photographer, gives the exhibition a perspective that combines science and the beauty of nature. Using his spectacular photographs and the findings from his scientific research, an esthetic, moving layer has been added to this exhibition, helping us to present the scientific aspects of the coral reef.

So let’s go, come and dive down and get deeply acquainted with the stony corals…
The exhibition is on display in the multipurpose gallery on Level 3

Artist and designer: Tzuri Gueta

Scientific curation: Dr. Noga Sokolover
Museum curation: Limor Margulis

Scientific consultation: Dr. Tom Shlesinger, Dr. Omri Bronstein, Prof. Noa Shenkar
The Marine Biodiversity Center at the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History

Photographs: Dr. Tom Shlesinger, Dr. Shevi Rothman, Itai Grisaru, Shani Levy, Underwater Earth/XL Catlin Seaview Survey

Videos: Peter Kragh, How Do Corals Build Reefs © 2018 California Academy of Sciences