A panel with 154 individual pieces forms 'The Birth of Neptunia', a work inspired by the sea grasslands. The auction of each individual piece reverts to marine conservation work carried out by the Center for Marine Sciences (CCMAR) of the University of the Algarve.
The work was conceived by the plastic artists Gezo Marques and José Aparício Gonçalves, who were inspired by the daughter of the lord of the seas to respond to the challenge launched by the partnership between Hendrick's Gin and Project Seagrass, which is dedicated to protecting and reforesting seagrasslands.
In Portugal, the funds revert to CCMAR. Interested parties have until October 28th to purchase one of the 154 panels and thus contribute to the conservation of these important habitats.
The creators of the work met a few months ago with CCMAR researcher Carmen Santos to talk about the seagrass meadows and their importance, when they showed the scientist the design of the work they were going to create.
Carmen Santos refers to this work as «a very genuine representation of seagrass, in the form of a mermaid surrounded by different sea creatures, showing the beauty and vulnerability of these ecosystems and also one of their ecological functions, supporting biodiversity» .
«We were surprised by this invitation, but we immediately accepted it because it is another way of getting the message across to the public and reinforcing the importance of marine prairies and their preservation. Anyone who wants to can keep one of the work's panels knowing that it has also contributed to its study and conservation», reveals the researcher.
For more than 30 years, the Algae group – Marine Plant Ecology Research – has been studying these ecosystems and its leader, CCMAR researcher and professor at the University of Algarve Rui Santos, points out that «their contribution to the environment is increasingly being perceived , but also for people because they purify water, sequester carbon, protect the coast and support biodiversity and fisheries resources».
«The money raised will be important to help finance our efforts to rebuild seagrass populations in Ria Formosa, which are the habitat of seahorses that are threatened with extinction in this system», he concludes.
The inauguration of the panel took place last Thursday in Lisbon and the 154 pieces are already available for purchase at Oficina Marques and through of this website.
After that date, the panels will try to remind their owners that only if everyone rows in the same direction, in defense of the environment, will it be possible to bring the planet to a safe harbor.
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