Shore Pound Lost & Found

By choosing to not use any new material in his work, Mark brings to the forefront the idea of how we consume by creatively reusing and reclaiming items that in another light would just be seen as trash.

If you're unfamiliar with the artwork of legendary waterman Mark Cunningham, you're at a loss. His ability to take abandoned man-made objects out of the ocean and turn them into art pieces with such authenticity is something only a true waterman could do. By choosing to not use any new material in his work, Mark brings to the forefront the idea of how we consume by creatively reusing and reclaiming items that in another light would just be seen as trash.

For his most recent show, Mark pairs the remains of wipeouts like fins, coins, cameras, watches, keys, and sunglasses – all of which he discovers while diving the reefs and beaches on Oahu's North Shore.

As a canvas Mark uses flotsam and jetsam he finds while beachcombing between Kahuku and Makapuu on Oahu's windward shores. Piecing these items together, Mark creates visual stories from likeminded treasure in an attempt to recover their mysterious history, while also pushing forward ideas of environmental consciousness by creating a sustainable, completely recycled installation. It’s Mark’s whole-minded approach to his work that makes his art so authentic and so compelling.

Below is the full selection from of Mark's work from 'Shore Pound Lost and Found'.