WOD Artist at Sea Catalog - Flipbook - Page 10
LILY SIMONSON
The Dream, Point Dume Seep No. 4 with Haliphron Alanticus Octopus, 2022
Acrylic on canvas
24" x 36"
Deep sea chemosynthetic microbes transform methane and sulfur — which we often think of as toxic
greenhouse gasses — into life. This process produces a carbonate substance that resembles 昀氀at rock.
At this one very special spot in the deep sea, called Point Dume, microbes seem to have become artists
themselves. The carbonate structures they produce mysteriously take the shape of surreal human-scale
biomorphic formations. During Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Backyard Deep expedition, Simonson had
the amazing opportunity to observe and paint these incredible structures, and was present when the
science team observed a rare octopus species — Haliphron atlanticus. Though often shy, this octopus
seemed to love the ROV camera, changing color before the team, from purple to red to white and back
again for many minutes. This site also served as a testing ground for a new optical modem technology
— represented by the blue light in the painting — that could help humans explore oceans on distant
moons and planets.
Lily Simonson sailed on R/V Falkor October 2018 on the Characterizing Vent and Seepage along the
California Coast expedition.
For more information or to purchase work visit lilysimonson.com.
