Photography

On a summer's day in 1991, in the sea near where Whelan grew up, a young scuba diver disappeared during a dive. A search took place involving the whole neighbourhood, but the diver's body was found days later, caught up in illegal fishing nets. In an attempt to connect with any biological or metaphysical traces of this event, Whelan placed quartz crystals among the rocks and seaweed at this site. For a full moon cycle, the crystals became part of this environment, submerged under the violent waves. They were then collected without any human touch, so as not to affect the surface and the potential trauma absorbed within. The crystals were photographed using extreme macro photography, investigating the edges, surfaces and the algae attached. Afterwards, the crystals were returned to the sea. The height of the prints corresponds to the average height of a person in the country where the work is exhibited.