Symbiotic relationships where cells or organisms interact to mutual benefit persist throughout the branches of evolution. This piece of work is an abstract interpretation of such a relationship. It is loosely based on the ecosystem around coral, a colonial animal that relies heavily on its relationship with single celled algae called zooxanthellae. The algae provide food to the coral through photosynthesis whilst the carbon dioxide needed for photosynthesis is generated by the coral when it lays down its limestone skeleton which protects both animal and algae. The coral polyps are transparent but the algae give them their glorious colours. The coral, the surrounding plankton upon which it relies, and the marine ecosystem are heavily under threat from warming seas, acidity and pollution.

The folding form emulates the structures found in biological systems from the microscopic level of the cell to coral reefs and beyond where interconnectivity and exchange are common and crucial. The images are caught within the layers as if trapped on a microscope slide.

Japanese Kozuke paper, watercolour, water-based inks, soy wax. 1000 x 850 x up to 2000 mm