Fukushima Offset explores the dynamic relationship between ecology, media news, and public discussion, within the context of Japan’s Fukushima treated water event. An installation is designed to represent this complex relationship through sounds and visuals. The main component is a set of four mixed-media motor-controlled mobile sculptures representing Giant Kelp, whose largest concentration was about 250-fold higher than levels detected in California before the Japan Fukushima accident. However, the effects on kelp and marine ecosystems remain unknown. Twitter comments from four public media sources (BBCNews, guardianeco, zlj517, Greenpeace) are projected onto the moving sculpture. Its spinning motions are controlled by the time when the comments were posted.  The giant kelp gradually breaks apart and creates sounds as its various parts rotate and collide with one another.

As the collisions erode the sculpture over time, the installation slowly transforms from the representation of a biological species into a complex social symbol that invites reflection on public discourses about the environment. After the event is filtered by the media, does the focus on the ecological issue shift to political condemnation and a bargaining chip for taking sides? This project points out that online media and discussions are constructing environmental conditions. Narratives that shape our beliefs are critical to ecology. It asks whether peoples’ opinions can be passed on to reality to have a positive impact and explores the relationship between reality (marine life) and social discussion.