Deep-Sea is an ongoing project investigating the effects of deep-sea mining on the ocean’s and world’s ecosystems. Since May of 2021, Michel has been a Visiting Artist in Residence at Bigelow Laboratories for Ocean Studies in East Boothbay, Maine, meeting regularly with Dr. Beth Orcutt, a Senior Research Scientist. Dr. Orcutt studies microbial life in deep-sea environments and the effects of deep-sea mining on the ocean’s ecosystems. These paintings are informed by these sublime environments, mysterious life forms, uncharted territories, and conversations about the risks of human impact in these rarely seen primordial places.
