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Olek Yarn-Bombed An Underwater Sculpture, Endangering Protected Wildlife


August 18, 2014 | Sophie Weiner

Yarn-bombing artist Olek is in trouble for crocheting an underwater sculpture off the coast of Mexico. Wearing scuba gear, the artist dove into Cancun’s Underwater Museum and encased a sculpture in yarn, making it look like a colorful, fuzzy bomb. The profusely self-documented stunt was made in an effort to raise awareness for environmental causes.

The artist failed to consider her own environmental missteps. Underwater Museum director Jaime Gonzalez told Fox News that he was disappointment in the artist’s lack of regard for the museum, which she did not ask permission to alter.

“Believe it or not, there is a lot of marine life growing, encrusted in the sculpture, and we gather that this has killed it,” Gonzalez said. The museum itself is in a protected wildlife area and there are suits against Olek being prepared for her actions. Olek doesn’t seem to take the charges too seriously, or even really understand them:

If they want to sue me, I don’t know. I can pay them back with crocheting more underwater sculptures. I don’t know why would they sue me but maybe they’re a little bit upset that I did it there.

It seems doubtful environmental lawyers suing her for harming wildlife would settle for being paid back in further damage. “But my intentions were positive and that’s the most important thing about my work,” Olek said. “I really want to create a positive message.”

 

(Image: Olek)