-
Dive is an animated film showing South Korea's rich history of folktales and inspiring Riew to draw upon "The Tale of Shimcheongjeon," also known as "Sim Cheong: The Dutiful Daughter." The main moral of this folktale is to highlight the filial piety, sacrifice, and redemption that Sim Cheong undergoes throughout her struggles to restore her blind father's sight. In doing so, she sells herself to sea merchants and learns that she must sacrifice herself to the sea. Impressed by her filial piety, the Dragon King, also known as the Sea King, returns her to the human world. In this act of self-sacrifice, Sim Cheong is reborn with truth and reunited with her father.
-
Song of the Sea is an animated film that explores the longing, searching, and complexities of love as Ben and his sister, Saoirse, are caught between different elements: the land and the sea. Throughout this song, the repetition of the phrase "Amhrán na farraige," also known as the Song of the Sea, emphasizes the symbolic significance that the sea holds. The sea is home to both tranquility and restlessness which is reflected in Ben's desire for a sense of peace and connection as he grapples with his relationship with his sister and acceptance of grief and loss.
-
In late 2021, Harvard student Julia Riew was saddened by the lack of Korean representation in Disney's animated princess films. South Korea has a rich history of folktales, thus inspiring Riew to draw upon ""The Tale of Shimcheongjeon,"" also known as ""Sim Cheong: The Dutiful Daughter."" The main moral of this folktale is to highlight the filial piety, sacrifice, and redemption that Sim Cheong undergoes throughout her struggles to restore her blind father's sight. In doing so, she sells herself to sea merchants and learns that she must sacrifice herself to the sea. Impressed by her filial piety, the Dragon King, also known as the Sea King, returns her to the human world. In this act of self-sacrifice, Sim Cheong is reborn with truth and reunited with her father.
The sea plays a large role in Shimcheongjeon as it is associated with the ""Kingdom of Truth."" Her act of drowning and appearing in the Kingdom of Truth marked the ""death of the existence of one's self."" Thus allowing her to become “the truth” in her resurrection. Once she returns to the human world with her true mind she is able to teach those around her that it is not them who are blind, but it is the eyes of their minds which are blind.
Riew composes this song to encapsulate the moments leading up to Sim Cheong's final dive into the sea, highlighting the power that the sea holds to drive Sim Cheong's decision. When Sim Cheong states ""all of this fish in the sea can't stop me, all of the waves in the world can't rock me,"" we see the definitive strength, intensity, and energy that the ocean provides in comparison to Sim Cheong's ultimate decision. In Shimcheongjeon, the ocean is the inspiration for clarity as well as power within ancient Korea.
This song was animated by Cobb Studio in collaboration with LG for the LG gram 360 commercial.
-
"“Amhrán Na Farraige” was featured in the original motion picture soundtrack, Song of the Sea. It is sung by Lisa Hannigan and composed by Bruno Coulais in Irish Gaelic.
Song of the Sea is an animated film that explores the longing, searching, and complexities of love as Ben and his sister, Saoirse, are caught between different elements: the land and the sea. Ben is a young boy who lives on an island with his father, a lighthouse keeper, and his pregnant mother. However, once his mother gives birth to his little sister Saoirse, she disappears and leaves the family behind. As a result, Ben resents his sister since her appearance is directly linked to his mother's disappearance. Their grandmother deems the lighthouse an unfit place to raise children and decides to relocate the children to the mainland. In doing so, their grandmother, Granny, removes the white sealskin coat given by the children's mother to their father, which also strips Saorise of her selkie abilities. On the way to Granny's house, they are attacked by Macha's (Goddess of War) owls and Saorise gets kidnapped. In Ben's journey to find Saorise and return her to her seal coat, he stumbles upon a holy well. Here he learns that his mother's departure is due to her selkie nature and not a result of his sister's birth. Now fueled by a newfound love for Saorise, Ben battles the elements to defeat Macha and save his sister from her death.
Throughout this song, the repetition of the phrase ""Amhrán na farraige,"" also known as the Song of the Sea, emphasizes the symbolic significance that the sea holds. The sea is home to both tranquility and restlessness which is reflected in Ben's desire for a sense of peace and connection as he grapples with his relationship with his sister and acceptance of grief and loss.
-
The Sea was composed and sung by HAEVN, a Dutch music duo centered in Amsterdam. The duo consists of singer/songwriter Marijn van der Meer and film music composer Jorrit Kleijnen. In an interview with Genius Music, Jorrit stated that the duo "often quote the subject of water. [...] [They] find water and the sea are a nice metaphor for what we can not fathom. When you are at sea, you feel that your head is empty, but at the same time, it is such a powerful and great thing that you can not comprehend [it]. It is both liberating and intimidating. [They] tried to capture that in the lyrics and music of The Sea.' " We see here in HAEVN's piece that the ocean and the emotions connected to this vast body of water is the root of inspiration for the duo's album Eyes Closed. This album draws the feelings of the push and pull within the ocean currents and reflects them upon the turmoil of love. As Marjin states in a later interview, " 'You just feel with this music that you jump into the deep!' "
-
"Only the Ocean" by Jack Johnson is a song that captures a sense of contemplation and reflection through one's connection to the ocean. While the song doesn't explicitly state how the ocean inspires the lyrics, it evokes feelings of the change, abyss, and mystery that is often associated with the ocean. Oceans are a powerful metaphor that symbolize the depths of human emotions and the vast expanse of the unknown. This song uses this connection to the ocean to portray one’s resilience as one faces the unpredictability of life's journey. Additionally, the ocean, with its vastness and eternal rhythm, offers a sense of continuity and connection to something larger than oneself.
-
This photograph captures a serene moment just beneath the sea during sunset. The bright yellow light comes from the suns setting just above the water. The bubbles in the water remind us that although peaceful, the water is filled with mystery and creatures unknown. The combination of colors shows just how beautiful under the waters surface can be.
-
This photograph of an unknown landscape, shows the beauty of an ocean coast. In the far back, we can see people enjoying their time at the beach. The versatility of the ocean coast draws people views or relaxing activities.
-
This photograph was captured by Moorea Ocean Adventures. It shows four humpback whales swimming through the clear water of Moorea in French Polynesia.
-
This photograph is one of 33 photos taken by Greg Huglin of dolphins off the coast of South Africa. These dolphins ride the waves, gliding and leaping through each with ease. It is almost as if they are performing a graceful dance through the ocean.
-
This photograph depicts seashells that have washed up on the beach of Oasi del Sogno in Pachino, Italy. This is a popular vacationing spot for people around the world to walk along the beach and search for seashells. These seashells come in various colors and sizes and can be seen on the shore.
-
This photograph depicts the wondrous beach of Oasi del Sogno in Pachino, Italy. This is a popular vacationing spot for people around the world to stay because of its sea view. The mix of sky blue and crystal clear water attracts people from all over to watch these waves as they come onto shore.
-
This photograph is of UK poet Trina Graves.
-
Black and white photograph of poet Emily Dickinson.
-
This photograph shows the serine sunlight shining through the deep sea. This underwater perspective shows the stillness and beauty under the surface of the sea.
-
This photograph depicts an underwater cave in the ocean. Deep beneath the ocean surface, fish, and other wildlife roam. The clear blue water is tranquil, yet beautiful and full of life.
-
Photograph of American novelist and storywriter Nathaniel Hawthorne.
-
Music by Neil Myers, Matthew Rees, Lisa Van Hal, Markus Siegel, David Michael Tardy, and Kenny Mac. Artwork, animation, and playlist composition by Pandora Journey. These orchestral compositions are largely inspired by the movement, aquatic life, and ever-changing dynamics of the oceans.
-
Artwork created by Vincent Van Gogh at the fishing village of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, during a trip he took from Arles, France. The colors mimic those of the Mediterranean Sea. It is known that this painting was created at a viewpoint on a sandy beach in front of the ocean waves of Les-Saintes-de-la-Mer. In this painting, Van Gogh captures the essence and energy of the ocean. With his defined brushstrokes, a lively and dynamic atmosphere is created, closely reflecting the movement of the waves and the play of light on the water's surface. Van Gogh's use of a vibrant pallet of intense blues, cobalt, greens, yellows, and whites for the ocean and sky creates a sense of depth and character. His depiction of the water's movement through the interplay of light and color appears to closely mirror his fascination with the ocean and his desire to convey this emotional connection with viewers. By capturing the power and beauty of the sea, this painting invites viewers to experience the vastness and majesty of the ocean and to appreciate its significance in the natural world.
-
Artwork created by James Holland portraying the scene of sailboats docking at a coastline harbor. It depicts a bustling enviroment on the sea of relationships, businesses, negotiations, parties, gatherings and so much more. It shows the practical side of the ocean, its usefulness to our everyday life and demands an appreciation of its importance.
-
Artwork created by Phil Foster depicts the harsh beauty of the Normandy coastline. His work is meant to capture the everyday beauty that farmers and peasants worked alongside. During the period of the 1870s, the countryside served as a backdrop for peasants performing everyday tasks to survive. Foster saw the beauty in this everyday landscape and decided to capture its dangerous but beautiful essence. Les Falaises de Gréville also known as The Cliffs of Gréville highlights the imposing structure of the cliff, the wind-sculpted soil, rough seas, and heavy clouds. Symbolizing not only the beauty of things perceived as dangerous but also the beauty of everyday things. Foster, along with many other French farmers, looked out on this landscape every day. Instead of seeing it as the everyday view Foster found the beauty in a familiar sight. This painting evokes the message that anything, even familiar sights, can be beautiful and have secrets just waiting to be found.
-
Artwork created by Bennett Bradbury envisions a coastal region with waves crashing up against rocky cliffs. Bradbury's work captures the beauty and power that the ocean possesses as the waves surge upwards as they meet the jagged coast. The vibrant turquoise and deep cobalt hues used contrasts against the white sea foam generated by the water's force. The salty ocean spray reaches beyond the waves as the droplets mist the rocks. The faint pink hint of a sunset graces the underside of the clouds that stretch across a blue sky. This painting evokes the strength of our natural world and the innate beauty which it possesses.
-
Artwork created by Phil Foster, an American artist portraying the vastness, depth, and beauty of the ocean. The Coast of Maine is known for its picturesque landscape and dangerous seas. Being very jagged with rocks sticking out into the ocean, Foster captures the essence of the coastline from its creation of wandering land masses colliding millions of years ago. Incorporating different hues of blue for the sea and sky and different yellows and browns for the rocks adds depth to the painting, capturing the feeling of being present at the coastline. Foster exemplifies the secluded natural location of the coastline, with no human civilization present. The Coast of Maine is a place away from everyday life. The rocks meet the sea which expands into the sky, symbolizing an escape through nature.
-
Artwork by Nikolina Kovalenko surrounding a philanthropy-driven exhibition benefitting the Coral Reef Alliance meant to portray the intricate nature of the ocean's once untouched coral reefs. The vibrant colors, textures, and depth evoke a sense of an idealized or dreamlike underwater environment. Through these techniques, Kovalenko draws inspiration from our once-untouched oceans to help push the need for the conservation of these unique structures home to thousands of aquatic organisms.
-
This piece by Pierre-Auguste Renoir from France creates an impression of the dramatic atmosphere created by ocean sunsets and the minuscule nature of human presence. Through his use of short, quick, loose brushstrokes and his intuitive use of color, Renoir captures the awe-inspiring view of a sunset by the beach. His painting conveys feelings of joy, leisure, and peace as one is transported to the oceanside, enjoying the fiery hues of the sun reflecting across the waves.