Teguh Ostenrik Indonesian, b. 1950
House of Eels, 2022
7.87 x 7.87 x 23.62 in / 19.99 x 19.99 x 59.99 cm | 453.59 kg / 1000 lbs
Collected by Evelyn Halim, Abigail Hakim, Wiyu Wahono
Collected by Evelyn Halim, Abigail Hakim, Wiyu Wahono
House of Eels (Domus Anguillae) is an underwater art installation by Ostenrik that functions as both sculpture and artificial coral reef. Submerged in May 2022 off Sembiran Village, Bali, the...
House of Eels (Domus Anguillae) is an underwater art installation by Ostenrik that functions as both sculpture and artificial coral reef. Submerged in May 2022 off Sembiran Village, Bali, the 62-metre-long structure is inspired by the shape of sea eels and is made up of winding metal tunnels that stretch across the ocean floor. The word domus, meaning “house” in Latin, reflects the artwork’s purpose: to become a home for marine life and a foundation for new coral growth as limestone gradually forms on its surface. Ostenrik also describes the work as resembling a mother’s womb, symbolising renewal and life. Created with the help of volunteers and marine experts, House of Eels responds directly to coral reef destruction by turning art into a long-term, living habitat beneath the sea.