Claudia Comte at the Alligator Head Foundation

In March 2019, the Swiss visual artist Claudia Comte embarked on a 6-week residency part of the collaborative interdisciplinary residency programme between TBA21–Academy and Alligator Head Foundation in their facilities in Port Antonio, Jamaica. A commission driven by the production of a new series of chainsaw carved sculptures made from endemic Jamaican wood, whose abstracted forms are to be partly derived from marine life.  

Comte produced two series of sculptures: a group of sculptures based on coral forms and another on abstracted forms. This latter group of sculptures is a continuation of a much larger signature project titled Sculpture Objects. Initiated in 2012, Sculpture Objects are subtly recognisable chainsaw carved forms that demonstrate Comte's continued interest in injecting humour and fortuity into the analogues of modernist tradition. An unapologetically anthropomorphic perspective is imbued into these wooden abstracted shapes in an effort to create an empathic connection to the autochthonous material from which these sculptures originate. No trees were felled for this project, as all were sourced naturally.

In this series, Comte turned to the preservation of the world's oceans as a personal focus — the artistic output being abstracted sculptural forms gleaned from coral and other marine life. Comte's long-time collaborator and musician Egon Elliut joined her at the residency to gather field recordings from underwater life and of forests in Jamaica. The sound composed in Jamaica plays a significant role in the production. Another important part of this residency was the beginning of collaboration and research with the marine biologist David Gruber as well as Coral Morphologic, an art-science duo formed by marine biologist Colin Foord and musician J.D. McKay.

Beyond the residency, the research and production conducted in Jamaica will be exhibited at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid in 2021.


Alligator Head Foundation (AHF) is a Jamaican-based project initiated by TBA21–Academy, focusing on the intersection of science, art, and community. With a collaborative approach to protecting fish stocks, restoring habitats, and regenerating local economies, AHF supports the local communities in Portland that depend on fishing as a livelihood. It assists with education and training, empowering community members with the tools needed to move toward a more sustainable livelihood that is not centered exclusively on fishing but is built increasingly around recreational activities, particularly the diving program. 

Along with managing the East Portland Fish Sanctuary, AHF is dedicated to supporting cultural production, and the commissioning of ambitious projects that raise ecological, economic, and social issues to the general public, and the local community. As such, the Foundation has continuously functioned as an artists' residency for projects supported by TBA21–Academy, including the work of Joan Jonas and Susanne M. Winterling. 
 

As part of our commitment to regenerative practices, we have partnered with UreCulture to undertake a series of in-depth case studies examining the ecological and social impact of our collections and the commissioning processes behind them—both regenerative and challenging. These findings are consolidated in the Ecological and Social Impact of the TBA21 Collection reports.
This initiative represents our dedication to transparency and self-reflection, as we seek to honestly evaluate our practices. The results highlight the positive contributions of these artistic endeavors while shedding light on areas for improvement to further reduce our ecological footprint.

The inaugural study focuses on the life cycle of Claudia Comte’s artworks within the TBA21 Collection. Claudia’s collaboration with TBA21 began in 2018 during the TBA21–Academy expedition to New Zealand, The Current II, led by Chus Martínez. This journey culminated in the exhibitions After Nature in Madrid and Underwater Cacti in Jamaica, and included a residency at the Alligator Head Foundation in Jamaica. This ocean conservation hub, a scientific partner of TBA21–Academy, deeply influenced Claudia’s Underwater Cacti project, inspired by the foundation’s coral regeneration program.

Comte’s artistic practice delves into the history and memory of biomorphic forms, blending traditional handcrafting techniques with industrial machine processes. Her installations center around monumental wall paintings and sculptural series that draw inspiration from organic patterns and morphologies such as waves, sonar, rock strata, cacti, and coral reefs.

Case Study: Claudia Comte