Dive Scenes
Dive Scenes explores historical imagery of divers, particularly from the 1960s and 1970s. In addition to being considered the “Golden Age” of diving, it is also
representative of when our oceans began to be considered as cultural heritage, particularly that of natural heritage via conservation. This series attempts to create a more design-oriented narrative of diving’s history by reinterpreting period
imagery into graphic art, particularly in the style of Travel Posters from the early 20th century which owe their colour and compositional queues to Germany’s plakatstil, where posterization originates.
The 1960s and 1970s witnessed a boom in SCUBA certifications as technology and equipment further made experiencing the depths of our oceans safer and more
tangible for the civilian. More publicized exploration by the likes of National Geographic magazine and television shows such as The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau helped create a wider ranging understanding of the world
beneath the waves to much wider audiences. Two amazing examples of the growing appreciation for the environment during this time were the celebration of the first Earth Day in April 1970, and the founding of the Cousteau Society by
Jacques Cousteau in 1974.
The resulting two-dimensional interpretations owe their inspirations to period catalogues, advertisements, documentaries, news footage, and when fortunate,
from divers themselves. With their flat colours and simplified forms, these plakatstil paintings aim to focus on advancing technologies, science, conservation, archaeological discoveries, and those that spent time underwater, all of which contribute to the history of diving.