Home

Claudia Comte
Underwater Cacti, 2019

Claudia Comte, Underwater Cacti (2019). Photo by F-stop Movies.

TBA21–Academy

Commissions

Claudia Comte

Concrete
160 x 50 x 50 cm (each)

TBA21–Academy together with renowned artist Claudia Comte installed a permanent underwater exhibition in Jamaica, transforming her newest series of site-specific cacti sculptures into sustainable works dedicated to ocean advocacy. The installation is designed to reinvigorate the reef and function as a new home for local marine life when overlaid with coral.

Conceived during Comte’s TBA21–Academy residency at Alligator Head Foundation, the sculptures were created on-site at the Foundation with the support of the Academy’s first-ever technology resident Nathaniel Petre, who is investigating how 3D printing can create sustainable solutions that benefit local economies. The residency also provided the artist with an outdoor studio, sourced and supplied local materials, and provided access to its network of coral specialists and international and local marine biologists working at the Alligator Head Marine Lab.

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

RELATED PROGRAM

Nate Petre at the Alligator Head Foundation

The Current II: To Find The Vegan Lion Expedition #1 led by Chus Martínez

Claudia Comte at the Alligator Head Foundation

Artists

Claudia Comte

Claudia ComteUnderwater Cacti, 2019

Claudia Comte
Underwater Cacti, 2019