The ocean is a major actor within climate science because it quietly regulates the systems that make life on Earth possible. It generates about 50% of the oxygen we breathe, absorbs nearly 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions, and captures around 90% of the excess heat caused by greenhouse gases. In many ways, it acts as both the “lungs” of the planet and its largest carbon sink. However, increasing emissions are warming and acidifying seawater, reducing the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide and protect ecosystems. If the ocean were not absorbing this excess heat and CO₂, atmospheric temperatures would be rising at a much faster and more dangerous rate. This is not a distant issue, it is directly connected to coastal communities like ours here in New Jersey.
My mandala artwork is inspired by the structure and systems of seagrass meadows. Using the form of the seagrass leaves, I illustrated these underwater ecosystems into a circular form that represents the system of how seagrass combat and absorb CO₂. The materials and organic lines reflect the fluid movement of water, and the repetition of elements emphasizes the idea of systems working together. The mandala mirrors how seagrass spreads through thick rhizomes beneath the sediment, forming networks that stabilize ecosystems. The circular form of the mandala symbolizes the carbon cycle and the ocean’s continuous exchange of heat, and carbon dioxide. Through this piece, I show that even delicate, often overlooked plants like seagrass play a powerful role in sustaining our ecosystem.
