Singapore, Japan unveil artwork 7km beneath the ocean

Key Concepts

• Deep ocean art installation
• Early warning seismic sensor for underwater volcanoes
• Hybrid manufacturing process
• Ultra-thin stainless steel sheets
• Extreme pressure and corrosive conditions
• Additive manufacturing
• Universal language of symbols
• Collaboration between art and technology

Main Topics and Key Points

• Singapore's Deepest Art Installation: Singapore is the first country to have an art installation 7 kilometers beneath the ocean, near the Mariana Trench.
• The Artwork: The installation comprises three metal cubes.
• Collaboration: The work is a collaboration between Singaporean artist Lashmi Muhan Babu, local tech firm Newar Technologies, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
• Purpose: The art is part of a specially designed early warning seismic sensor for underwater volcanoes.
• NTU's Role: NTU researchers used a hybrid manufacturing process to create one of the cubes.
• Material and Manufacturing: The cube was made using 80 layers of ultra-thin stainless steel sheets fused into a 4mm thick wall. This creates a dense structure resilient to extreme pressure and corrosive conditions.

Important Examples, Case Studies, or Real-World Applications Discussed

• Interaction Series: The deep ocean installation is part of Lashmi Muhan Babu's "Interaction Series," which also includes art sent to space and slated to reach the moon in 2025 as part of the Moon Gallery.
• Space Art: Lashmi Muhan Babu has previous collaborations with professors at NTU involving sending art to space.

Step-by-Step Processes, Methodologies, or Frameworks Explained

• NTU's Hybrid Manufacturing Process:
  1. Design: The process started with designs for the cube.
  2. Material Selection: Stainless steel was chosen due to its resistance to pressure and corrosion.
  3. Layering: 80 layers of ultra-thin stainless steel sheets were used.
  4. Fusion: The sheets were fused together to create a 4mm thick wall.
  5. Testing: The resulting structure was tested for resilience to extreme pressure and corrosive conditions.

Key Arguments or Perspectives Presented, with Their Supporting Evidence

• Art as a Boundary Pusher: Lashmi Muhan Babu views art as a means to push boundaries, explore uncharted territories, and foster collaboration between art and technology. She supports this by citing her projects in space and the deep ocean.
• Art as a Universal Language: Lashmi Muhan Babu aims to create a universal language through her art, bridging people and connecting with the environment. The use of universal symbols on the cubes supports this idea.
• Challenges in Deep Ocean Manufacturing: Professor Li Chang Chuen highlights the challenges of creating structures that can withstand the immense pressure and corrosive environment of the deep ocean. The use of stainless steel and the innovative layering technique were solutions to these challenges.

Notable Quotes or Significant Statements with Proper Attribution

• Lashmi Muhan Babu: "For me the art was not just the art but it was the journey together with all the collaborators who joined me in this Venture for 2 years to create this piece of work."
• Lashmi Muhan Babu: "I actually wanted to think of art people to think of art is not just something that hangs on a wall I wanted it to be about pushing boundaries both in exploring how art is viewed where it is viewed."
• Professor Li Chang Chuen: "The first thing that you must think of is the immense pressure at the bottom of the ocean."
• Professor Li Chang Chuen: "This was a totally new technology nobody in the world has really built anything like this."

Technical Terms, Concepts, or Specialized Vocabulary with Brief Explanations

• Additive Manufacturing: A process of building three-dimensional objects from a digital design by adding material layer by layer.
• Hybrid Manufacturing: A manufacturing process that combines different techniques, in this case, layering and fusion of stainless steel sheets.
• Seismic Sensor: A device that detects and measures ground motions, such as those caused by earthquakes or volcanic activity.
• Mariana Trench: The deepest part of the world's oceans.

Logical Connections Between Different Sections and Ideas

The video connects the artist's vision with the technological challenges and solutions provided by NTU. It shows how the "Interaction Series" evolved from space to the deep ocean, highlighting the common theme of exploring extreme environments. The discussion of the manufacturing process is directly linked to the need for materials and techniques that can withstand the harsh conditions of the deep ocean.

Any Data, Research Findings, or Statistics Mentioned

• The art installation is located 7 kilometers beneath the ocean.
• The cube walls are 4mm thick, made from 80 layers of stainless steel.
• The pressure at 7 km depth is 700 times the pressure on the Earth's surface.

Brief Synthesis/Conclusion of the Main Takeaways

The deep ocean art installation represents a significant achievement in both art and technology. It showcases the potential for collaboration between different fields to push boundaries and explore new frontiers. The project highlights the importance of innovation in materials science and manufacturing to create structures that can withstand extreme environments. Furthermore, it emphasizes the role of art in raising awareness about environmental issues and inspiring people to explore the unknown.