Left to right. Top: © Quentin Blake, © Margaux Carpentier, © Nina Cosford Middle: © Tom Cole, © Charlie Adlard, © Gemma Correll Bottom: © Kate Isobel Scott, © Marcus Walters, © Fábio Moon.
If you follow artists and illustrators on Instagram, it is likely you’ve come across the #DrawThisInYourStyle challenge, where artists recreate others illustrations in their own unique style.
Now the hashtag is being used to help bring to life a small, unique and unknown part of the ocean which is at risk from the mining industry.
Discovering the Lost City
In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, over 750 metres below the water, sits a place called the Lost City. Discovered just 20 years ago, it’s called the Lost City because the giant chimney shaped hydrothermal vents make it look like an abandoned metropolis.
Its discovery has opened up a new chapter for science, challenging what people thought about life on Earth. Some are even asking if it holds the key to where life started.
But, the discovery of the unique ecosystems has attracted the interest of mining industries.
The areas around the big venting chimneys also contain rare earth minerals. The deep seabed mining industry wants to scoop, dredge, and destroy places like the Lost City with gigantic machines that look like something straight out of a sci-fi horror film.
All of the beauty the Lost City holds could be irreversibly damaged – before anyone even fully understands what is there.
#TheLostCityInYourStyle Challenge
Art has always been able to show the beauty and wonder of far away places. That’s why we put the call out to artists across the globe to help bring the Lost City and all its wonders to people everywhere.
The incredible Quentin Blake (yes, the one who illustrated all those books written by legendary author Roald Dahl) and Charlie Adlard (best known for his work on The Walking Dead comic books) kicked off the challenge.
Charlie Adlard
Instagram: @charlie_adlard
Their creations show the beauty and strangeness of the Lost City. Strange animals with character and beautiful colours and formations usually hidden under the dark ocean depths.
Quentin Blake
Instagram: @quentinblake
Quentin also depicts the looming threat of the deep sea mining industry. A drill cracking open the earth without a creature in sight.
Following in their footsteps, other artists also took up the challenge. Either choosing to showcase the beauty and the threat or focusing in on the magical place of the Lost City to inspire its protection. Take a look…
Shoko Lee
Instagram: @shokoleeartist
Among the artists who took on the challenge was one of our own – Malaysian artist Shoko Lee who delved into her archives to unearth an environmentally themed painting dating from 1989, titled ‘Nuclear Bomb at the Bottom of the Sea’.
It depicts a deep sea diver and creatures of the depths, inspecting a nuclear bomb which has reach the ocean floor. The fish inspect the bomb, innocent in their curiosity. But the diver knows better. We have to protect the Lost City from humankind’s exploitation.
Alain Bardet
Instagram: @alain_bardet
Bo Xu
Instagram: @boxudesign
Bryce Wymer
Instagram: @brycewymer
Catalina Estrada
Instagram: @catalinaestrada
Chris Riddell
Instagram: @chris_riddell
Claude Pelet
Website: cpelet.fr
Daniel Frost
Instagram: @danielfrostillustration
Emma Shoard
Instagram: @emmashoard
Essy May
Instagram: @essy_may
Fábio Moon
Instagram: @fabiomoon
Gabriel Bá
Instagram: @gabriel_ba
Gael de Meyere
Website: gaeldemeyere.com
Gemma Correll
Instagram: @gemmacorrell
Guillaume Bianco
Instagram: @guillaumebianco
Hubert Reeves
Website: hubertreeves.info
Jan Bosschaert
Website: janbosschaert.be
Johan de Moor
Instagram: @johandemoor4645
Kate Isobel Scott
Instagram: @kateisobelscott
Katharine Mary Hill
Instagram: @katharinemaryhill
Kristjana S Williams
Instagram: @kristjanswilliams
Lauren Rolwing
Instagram: @LaurenRolwing
Marcus Walters
Instagram: @marcuswalters
Margaux Carpentier
Instagram: @margauxcarpe
Max Gustafson
Instagram: @gustafson.max
© Max Gustafson insta_ @gustafson.max
Max Lewko
Instagram: @maxlewko
Nina Cosford
Instagram: @ninacosford
Olivier Boiscommun
Instagram: @olivier_g_boiscommun
Pascale Hecquet
Website: grifagraf.com
Paté
Instagram: @pate_on_toast
Peyo
Instagram: @smurfs.official
Sally Fisher
Instagram: @sallyfisherart
Sam Dunn
Instagram: @xsamdunnx
Tanya Saunders
Instagram: @makeandpaint
Tom Cole
Instagram: @tomclohosycole
Virginie Morgand
Instagram: @virginie.morgand
Yan Le Pon
Website: yan-board.blogspot.com
Get involved
- Draw the Lost City in your style, then post it on Instagram or Twitter using #TheLostCityInYourStyle and #ProtectTheOceans.
- Sign the petition for a strong Global Oceans Treaty
- Learn more about the campaign to Protect The Oceans
- For more details on our Malaysian artist, contact Hui Ling Lee at [email protected]
We can’t do this without your help. Take action for environment protection, please make a donation today.