The Viscous Sea is an immersive 6-channel audio-visual installation that explores the effects of climate change and our relationship with nature. Reflecting on wider environmental impacts arising from the continual destruction of the Dead Sea, Ong Kian Peng developed this installation based on his research on and around the ancient salt like he was an Artist-in-Residence in Jordan between May to July 2022. Central to the work is the exploration of what it means for elemental water bodies to die and whether the Dead Sea can face another demise. The events leading to its decline are examined, and questions about its future are raised. The installation weaves together fragmented and spatial screens with a sonic soundscape as an exhausted, dying body makes its way slowly towards the Dead Sea. Upon arrival, it silently floats away, leaving us to ponder the future. The Dead Sea's future is predicted to involve an equilibrium between its salinity and water levels, resulting in a transformation of the remaining water into a viscous state. This transformation serves as a reminder of Timothy Morton's concept of the "viscous hyperobject" - where we are all interconnected within the phenomenon of climate change.
