An offering to the sea
- Hannah Tapping
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Words by Hannah Tapping
Art inspired by the natural environment comes to Cornish shores.
Raised on the coast, Sonia Shomalzadeh spends as much time as possible outdoors in nature. “The sea is in my blood. My whole family shares a deep love of the ocean. I was born on the south coast and spent my childhood camping in Dorset. My dad said I wanted to be in the water all the time and my mum grew up swimming in Mauritius, so now we go in the sea together whenever we can,” explains Sonia. Moving to Cornwall to study, inspired her passion for marine life: “I’ve always been aware of plastic pollution, then I read a shocking statistic saying there are 46,000 pieces of plastic in every square mile of the ocean. That’s why it’s so important to me to raise awareness of the human impact on wildlife. I use research to highlight the beauty of vulnerable species so that more people are drawn to supporting them.”
Using the beach as a canvas allows Sonia to create work on a vast scale: “I wanted to create art resembling the most threatened marine species, showing their beauty and vulnerability, so I chose the animals most endangered by the human impact of pollution in our waters.” To create a life-sized blue whale, Sonia paces the 30-metre length in the sand to mark out the size and then works abstractly with her hands and feet. “I can roughly see the proportions of a tail at ground level, but I don’t really know how it looks until I climb the cliff above it for a better view. I focus on the curves: it’s very intuitive.”
During her residency at Watergate Bay Hotel earlier this year, Sonia found some much-needed focus time. By immersing herself in the environment, Sonia was able to take creative inspiration from watching the waves and tides. Sketching out her work on paper and canvas, she would then transfer the drawings on to the sand at low tide. “I love the marks I can create in the sand and the freedom I get from art that leaves no trace; it feels like a ritual, an offering to the sea. Although, there can be a mix of emotions when I see my drawings wash away. Sometimes drawing these pieces gives me a deep sense of sadness, because I know many marine species are literally disappearing and that is part of the message I’m trying to convey.
Sonia’s work has wildlife conservation at its heart: “Art has the ability to connect with people and create a lasting impact, which can lead to powerful change. Our habits need to change so we can live more sustainably and in harmony with our natural environment.”
