Filipino conceptual artist Poklong Anading made his U.S. debut at Silverlens New York with “deep in the shallows, afloat in the depths”, a thought-provoking installation crafted from marine debris collected off Davao Gulf.
At the heart of the exhibition is “recruit no. 2”, an 86-inch hanging sculpture made from a 300-meter fishing net, seashells, and marine minerals. The net was recovered during Anading’s residency on Lubi Island in Davao de Oro, where he discovered it tangled underwater, symbolizing both environmental harm and surprising marine resilience.
Accompanying the piece is a 90-minute video “screen time”, documenting the artist’s underwater journey, from retrieving the waste to uncovering a thriving ecosystem of coral “recruits”—young organisms adapting and growing on the debris.
Anading highlights the irony of fishing nets meant to protect waters becoming agents of destruction. Yet, his work also offers hope, showing nature’s capacity to adapt and regenerate.
He emphasizes that while his art doesn’t provide solutions, it sparks awareness. “Art won’t solve the crisis, but it can make us reconsider our relationship with the sea,” he says.
Known for weaving climate themes into his work, Anading previously turned food packaging into cement planters during the pandemic—another reflection on human impact and coping.
“deep in the shallows, afloat in the depths” runs until June 21 at Silverlens New York.