Have you ever imagined what the world will be like in one hundred years? With global warming worsening, the sea level sharply rising, habitats being destroyed, and ecosystems in decline, mankind is facing inevitable environmental problems in its immediate future.
The origin of life has always been the ocean. Organic compounds in ocean water chemically altered one another to create microorganisms invisible to the human eye that are the ancestors of all life. After four billion years of evolution came the first human species. Now, as the earth is saturated and polluted by its human inhabitants, the climate has begun to change drastically. Nature has begun its ruthless counterattack. The sea will once again engulf the earth, covering the surface of the planet. The humans who survive will evolve, once again adapting to marine life.
"There will come a time when we will return to the water." Concerned with the future of the world and of mankind, Daniel Lee created the work "Merman" in 2016. Lee's future for humankind imagines that humans grow organs suited for underwater life, such as gills, fins, and tails, while retaining human facial features and flexible limbs. "Merman" is a 180 cm black sculpture of this organism, produced using 3D printing techniques. Through his exhibition NEXT, last year's large-scale exhibitions by the artist at both the National art Museum of Taiwan and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Daniel Lee inspired and brought together art lovers and enthusiasts.
A year later, Daniel Lee is launching a limited edition run of the "Merman", with 36 black mermen available. The work is fabricated from polyethylene, fitted with a stainless steel bracket and a wooden seat to support the Merman figure. The exquisite and vivid details are visible at first glance, presenting the merman of the future swimming at sea. The artist leads his audience to envision a version of human evolution, imagining the unlimited possibilities of our future.
"Merman", 2017, Polyethylene, Lacquer, Stainless steel, Wooden seat, 40 x 20 x 15 cm, Limited edition 36.
Works Collection Information www.yicollecta.com/collections/6/artworks/353
