A stunning, topical and thought-provoking installation opened in the cloisters of Chester Cathedral this week.
Created by North Wales artist, Jacha Potgieter, Saving The Deep features over ten sculptures each created from waste collected from just three beach visits. The artist has donated his time creating the installation in order to raise awareness of pollution in our seas, as part of the cathedral’s year of extraordinary special events, Waves.
All of the sculptures within Saving The Deep depict endangered species.
Jacha’s love of animals is a key thread to his work, as is, he says, his relationship with the world and the people within it. Much of his oeuvre makes social comment; some is challenging to its viewers. Through it all, Jacha returns to the subject of conservation. Two of Jacha’s key paintings were auctioned at an important evening with Sir David Attenborough, Virginia McKenna and Brian May, in support for Hope 4 Apes. Jacha is an ambassador for Orangutan Appeal UK and Ape Action Africa.
The recent hard-hitting statistic that there will be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050 has really spurred Jacha on to raise as much awareness as possible about the marine species directly affected by plastic pollution as well as harmful human actions such as longline fishing.
Dean of Chester, Tim Stratford comments “It is easy to take water for granted but it is water that makes our wonderful world the beautiful and living place that it is. Through our Waves year, we seek to provoke thought about how we both care for and abuse the world God has given us.
Jacha’s work at Chester Cathedral demonstrates this abuse vividly in a hard-hitting manner. It is essential viewing for all, and certainly should make us consider what waves we can each make.”
Saving The Deep is open now until Thursday 29 August 2019.