Artist's Statement: Under the deep sea where it is a dark world full of mysteries, there are weird creatures we have not seen. When we think of the deep dark parts of the ocean, the creatures that come to mind usually look unattractive, bizarre, or very unsettling. However deep down in the twilight zone, it is like various colours of fireworks. You can find life with vibrant pinks and blues like a whole new dimension with its own beauty and mysteries. Some even carry light and grace upon seeing them. When a light is lit in the twilight zone, we can see the many charmers who have been hiding in the dark. The deep sea is not all about the big, scary, ugly, or distorted looking creatures, it is about a magical world full of beauty and mesmerizing sights to behold.

Artist's Statement: When researching this theme, I came across many different wondrous ecosystems and creatures, but what caught my eye was the magnificent whale fall. Learning about how when a creature as massive as a blue whale (which is the specific whale I've painted) dies it can not only feed an ecosystem but become one itself for years and possibly decades was awe-inspiring. In my painting, you will find creatures that can be spotted at a whale fall such as the red osedax bone-eating worms, the hagfish scavengers eating soft tissue, and the muusoctopus who are also scavengers. My piece includes creatures from all stages of decomposition to highlight how important and amazing the whale falls are. The bright, almost fluorescent colors I've used show that this ecosystem itself is otherworldly down on the ocean floor, and how despite us normally not being able to see it clearly, they are still magical