Echoes of the Abyss

Echoes of the Abyss is a research-based art project that maps submerged conflict and unseen damage, inviting reflection on invisible violence, ecological harm, and shared responsibility as war continues in water, sediment, and living bodies.

With Echoes of the Abyss, Robertina Šebjanič explores the complex relationships between history, the marine environment, geopolitics, and the human footprint, charting submerged landscapes of harm not only as zones of contamination and presence of slow-violence, but also as spaces of memory and resilience..

The work builds on the initial research conducted aboard the Tara expedition vessel in 2023, where Šebjanič studied the contamination of marine environments by decaying munitions in the Baltic Sea. This research has been further extended to include the Adriatic region revealing how geopolitical histories marked by conflict leave enduring marks on the environment.

Abandoned unexploded ordnance (UXO) left behind by conflicts lie scattered on the seabed around the world’s oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes, posing environmental and ecological dangers. As the corroding shells thin over time, they begin to seep into the seafloor, releasing hazardous chemicals into groundwater and seawater alike, destabilising the delicate balance between the human and more-than-human worlds.

Through this multifaceted approach, Echoes of the Abyss invites viewers and listeners to confront the long-lasting, often invisible consequences of war, and to reflect on the urgent need to care for the aquatic ecologies that sustain life- both near and far, now and into the future.

Prior to creating the series of artworks, the artist organised the interdisciplinary symposium Ocean Around Us – Echoes of the Abyss bringing together experts from ecology, geopolitics, culture, and diving to explore the environmental impact of decaying munitions and foster collaborative approaches to marine conservation.

The installation has two variations, each centered on a video essay. The first focuses on the Baltic and North Seas, representing the fragility of flatfish with delicate glass objects. The second maps the Adriatic Sea, paired with a hand-tufted wool carpet that creates a warm, immersive space to engage with the realities of unexploded ordnance and chemical pollution. Together, they merge visual, sonic, and material elements to explore both vulnerability and resilience in marine ecologies.

Project has been recognized with an Award of Distinction at the 2026 Prix Ars Electronica 2026 in the Interactive Art + category.