The Story of Zoe

Zoe - A Living Sea Sculpture uses the power of art and technology
to highlight life’s fragility — and its promise.

Zoe in 2010, the year she died.

Named in honor of Zoe Anderson, an amazing young woman who lost her life at 24 in a tragic accident, which occurred when carbon monoxide from an improperly installed heater entered her home. There is a memorial page on Facebook, and more about her here.

The name Zoe is a Greek word meaning “life”, and Zoe lived life to the fullest, famous for her bright colors, generosity, laughter, and sparkle. Among her other passions, she was a neuroscientist, an artist, a photographer, and a diver. She loved the ocean, and was alarmed by the threats to its health. 

After her death, her friends and family raised funds in her memory. One use of those funds was to commission the installation of the sculpture named Zoe in her honor. The Cozumel location is equipped with a tilt, pan, and zoom webcam which will allow us all to watch as life slowly returns to populate this remarkable underwater sculpture by artist Colleen Flanigan. This piece is the latest of Colleen’s coral restoration works. The form was inspired by the twisting DNA molecules that encode all known life, yet the sculpture is more than just a symbol of life, it is designed to actually become alive itself through an innovative method of electrolysis in the sea. 

 

Zoe was killed by carbon monoxide, but its sister molecule is threatening our entire planet. Carbon dioxide is raising the world’s temperature and our oceans are carrying the biggest burden. Across the globe, seawater is becoming less habitable for many species due to rising temperatures, acidification, and pollution. Coral reefs are bleaching and dying rapidly as a result. 


The area where Zoe – A Living Sea Sculpture is sited has been gravely affected by unsustainable development and hurricane damage. What was once a gloriously rich coral ecosystem has lost much of its former glory. Perhaps with help not forever. Local divers and conservationists are working hard to restore the reefs. The Zoe Project is part of that effort. It is intended to inspire hope, caring, and action to protect our planet. If we help create the right conditions and halt our destructive activities, nature can once again revel in its abundance. 

There is rich symbolism here. The fusion of science and art, fragility and abundance, death and life, remembrance, a call to action, and a celebration of beauty. This is Zoe.

Gap year diving project, Borneo 2005