Katsushika Hokusai’s famous print Under the Wave off Kanagawa depicts a large wave the moment before it breaks, posing a threat to fishing boats. The print shows Japan’s integral relationship with the sea, which at times can be distressing. Hokusai’s print showing unpredictable danger and our relationship relationship to the waterways around us inspire the piece Under the Wave.

The piece is an interactive sculptural wave. Sitting under the wave can provoke a sense of peril from the water or what’s in it. One can look into the wave as if it has been cut in half to see a cross section of its contents. Etched onto the layers of acrylic are images of endangered fish native to American northeastern waters, alongside garbage and chemicals swirling within. The piece is symbolic of how dangerous polluted waters can be to us and the environment.