Prospecting Ocean (The MIT Press)

Prospecting Ocean explores the complex relationships between industry, politics, culture, and economics at the forefront of ocean excavations. Through an innovative union of art and science, this study examines the ecological, cultural, philosophical, and aesthetic reverberations of the threat to the world's oceans.

The book is based on an exhibition by photographer and filmmaker Armin Linke, which was commissioned by TBA21-Academy, London. Linke's work unmasks the technologies that enable extractions from the ocean, including future seabed mining for minerals and sampling of genetic data. The study extends far beyond Linke's research, presenting the latest research from a variety of fields and employing art as the place where disciplines can converge.

By integrating the work of artists with scientific, theoretical, and philosophical analysis, Prospecting Ocean demonstrates that visual culture offers new and urgent perspectives on ecological crises. With over 240 pages of richly illustrated study, this book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the impact of human activity on our planet's oceans.