Ahead of Ocean Talks next week – the annual event sponsored by Ocean Family Foundation that connects the superyacht industry with ocean conservation through inspirational talks and networking – BOAT speaks to Chinese digital artist Shan Hua about her extraordinary experience as artist-at-sea on board a marine microplastics expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Chinese digital artist Shan Hua has taken an unconventional path from fashion design to digital art and to the deck of a research vessel documenting microplastics in the Pacific Ocean. Her journey has culminated in a series of small, vibrant sculptures inspired by marine science and ocean conservation – work she will present at Ocean Talks, where the superyacht industry meets the world of ocean research.
Hua's creative journey began in childhood. "When I was a child, I was always interested in painting and sculpting, which is why I went into the art industry," she explains. "When I was applying for university, I was doing art training – sketching, painting, sculpting and so on." She went on to study fashion at the Royal College of Art in London, but it was during her studies that her artistic direction shifted unexpectedly.
"My course was remote, so because my tutor couldn't physically touch my fabric, I didn't feel like they could really connect with my work. This is why I started creating digital characters, as well as digital fabrics and garments," Hua recalls. What began as a practical solution evolved into an entirely new medium. "After graduation, I found that there wasn't much work around in fashion, but I found lots of galleries and exhibitions reaching out to me and interested in what I was doing. I thought, this is where I am supposed to be."
Her transition to digital art quickly gained recognition. After graduating, Hua became a finalist in the Vogue China Fashion Fund, which features three platforms: digital art, fashion design and jewellery. "I was the finalist in digital art," she says. "They introduced me to Schmidt Ocean Institute, where I had the chance to join a seven-day microplastics expedition aboard a research vessel. That's where I made these clay sculptures."
In August 2023, Hua embarked on the Dynamics of Sinking Microplastics expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute, travelling across Panama's Pacific coast. For someone whose work had been largely digital and studio-based, the experience was transformative.
"This was the first time I had ever seen how marine scientists work. It was totally different to how I imagined," she says. "I was so impressed by the complex equipment they use, which is very heavy and requires so much strength, and the long hours they worked – often 20 hours a day, seven days a week. With everyone together on the boat, it made us all feel like one – scientists, artists, crew, marine animals."
During the expedition, Hua created around 30 small sculptures, each measuring between two and five centimetres. The forms were inspired by the ship's CTD – a sensor-based instrument that measures the seawater properties of Conductivity, Temperature and Depth – as well as marine fossils. She then scanned the sculptures and recreated them digitally using a virtual reality headset, allowing her to reshape and refine them in three-dimensional space.
The sculptures are rendered in bright, artificial colours – a deliberate choice. "I used bright colours to reference the microplastics and artificial materials found within the ocean environment," Hua explains. "I wanted to spread the scientific spirit so that more people can know what marine scientists do."
The expedition explored depths of up to 3,000 metres, examining not only how microplastics affect human life, but also marine ecosystems far below the surface. "I was in awe of how hard these scientists worked and their passion for ocean conservation," Hua says. "I was amazed at how these tiny microplastics have such a big impact, which is why I made my sculptures small to reflect this."
She reflects: "Through this expedition, I now feel a deeper connection with marine life." It's a connection she hopes to share with audiences at Ocean Talks.
Ocean Talks returns to London on 11 June 2026, bringing together superyacht owners, suppliers, builders and designers with marine conservation leaders for an evening of inspiring talks and networking.
Read More/Everything you need to know about Ocean Talks 2026