Ocean Cube: The Deep Blue Oasis in NYC
Located in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, 60 Grand Street, Ocean Cube is an immersive pop-up museum exploring the future of human life under the deep blue sea with five bioluminescent rooms. Pairing the aesthetic of an ocean habitat with the message of sustainability, the museum is a destination for the avid Instagrammer as well as the environmental activist.
Room One: “Coral Tunnel”
Kun Wu, Randy Fernado, and Carol Zhang. Ocean Cube. “Coral Tunnel”. 2019. Copyright A. Garrett, 2019
The underwater adventure begins with a canopy of shimmering soft purple lights dangling from above in the “Coral Tunnel”. The whimsical coral in combination with the faint ambient music immediately initiates a meditative state that travels throughout the entire exhibition.
Room Two: “Net Guard”
Kun Wu, Randy Fernado, and Carol Zhang. Ocean Cube. “Net Guard”. 2019. Copyright A. Garrett, 2019
The blue hues of the string light maze dissipate and transform into the neon yellow “Net Guard” room. The glowing orbs suspended within the netting are representative of the man-made pollutants trapped within the futuristic ocean. Visitors are warned to keep their distance from the glowing spheres of waste.
Room Three: “Jellyfish Station”
Kun Wu, Randy Fernado, and Carol Zhang. Ocean Cube. “Jellyfish Station”. 2019. Copyright A. Garrett, 2019
Kun Wu, Randy Fernado, and Carol Zhang. Ocean Cube. “Jellyfish Station”. 2019. Copyright A. Garrett, 2019
The pollutants fade away as the blue tones return in “Jellyfish Station”. At the center of the room a whale, encrusted in lights, is encircled by shells, candles, and plastic anemones with fabric jellyfish floating overhead. In this futuristic ocean narrative, the undersea creatures are methods of transportation. Whales are express trains for the everyday commuter, while jellyfish are buses for visiting sightseers.
Room Four: “Bubble Mall”
Kun Wu, Randy Fernado, and Carol Zhang. Ocean Cube. “Bubble Mall”. 2019. Copyright A. Garrett, 2019
Orange tones cascade in the fourth room as conglomerations of bubbles fill the space in the “Bubble Mall”. Each hanging bubble stands in place of a brand or store. Visitors of this futuristic ocean habitat are encouraged to hop inside the bubble for a fanciful shopping experience.
Room Five: “Recycle Bank”
Kun Wu, Randy Fernado, and Carol Zhang. Ocean Cube. “Recycle Bank”. 2019. Copyright A. Garrett, 2019
The exhibition concludes with a statement of our current disposable environment with a sea of plastic bottles in “Recycle Bank”. Plastic bottles cover the walls, hiding the plastic shark swimming overhead. The materials in the final room were acquired in collaboration with Sure We Can, an organization creating community among can and bottle collectors.
The exhibit runs from June 8th to October 23rd with a $24 price of admission ($18 for students with valid ID and $14 for children ages 2 to 12). Nearly all of the materials within the pop-up exhibit will be sold or donated with its completion in October in efforts to minimize waste within our environment.