Artist's Statement: At 1,000 meters under the sea it is a deep-sea layer where no sunlight can be seen, but don't think that there's no light here. Organisms that live in this region have evolved lighting organs that can glow on their own, such as the anglerfish. The anglerfish can change color in time to adapt to its environment, and its key to survival is its spots, stripes and spikes, which give it the appearance of red seaweed. The anglerfish is particularly adept at lurking for food and evading predators. Biologically, this little lantern is called a lure. The lantern is formed by the first dorsal fin of the anglerfish, which gradually extends upwards. The front section acts like a fishing rod and the end expands to form a "lure". Many fish in the deep sea are phototropic, so the small lantern becomes a favorable weapon for the anglerfish to lure food.

Artist's Statement: The deep sea holds a plethora of mysteries, many of which are haunting and horrifying. Yet, it sparks fascination with its endless opportunity for discovery. The oarfish emerging from the dark represents the discoveries we have already made, and the siphonophore looms as a reminder of the otherworldliness often found in deep sea creatures. The darkness that shrouds both suggest that there is still much to uncover however. The darkness is not an indicator of lifelessness but is pregnant with possibilities. This feeling of mystery but intrigue is further emphasized by the vast biodiversity hidden in the dark, such as the chimaera shark, atolla jellies, schools of lantern fish, hadal snailfish, and the whale remains glinting in the background. Finally, the single light source coming from the viewer's perspective shows the startle and wonder one might feel in discovering and witnessing such creatures swimming by in the dark depths.