SPECIMENS OF TIME: GETBOL

Specimens of Time: Getbol is part of Specimens of Time, a series of data-driven light sculptures that preserve the sensory imprint of pristine natural environments, bottling atmosphere into luminous, algorithmic artifacts for a future in which those ecosystems may no longer exist.

This work draws inspiration from Korea’s Getbol, the expansive tidal flats along the southwestern coast that are among the world’s most ecologically rich and visually striking landscapes. These wetlands breathe with the sea, following daily cycles of submersion and exposure that sustain a vast network of life. They serve as vital feeding grounds for migratory birds, nurseries for marine species, and natural protectors against climate extremes. But with rising sea levels, this delicate balance is unraveling, the flats remain submerged for longer periods, losing oxygen and biodiversity in a slow, suffocating collapse.

The sculpture is composed of custom optical materials including formed reflective acrylics, holographic filters, and light-scattering films encased within a minimal, architectural light box.