Article interpretation and ceramic art photos by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, IL 62035, USA
The Published News Article
You’d think that we have solid information about the lifespan of sharks, but technical details get in the way of precise determinations. In bony fish the age is determined by counting growth rings on otoliths in the inner ear. Sharks don’t have otoliths, so age estimation is done by counting the yearly growth rings on shark vertebrae. this method was perfected by combining radioisotope analysis with the analysis of those rings.
Many Sharks Live a Century-Longer Than Thought
We humans go to great lengths to appear younger than we are. Sharks, it seems, do it naturally. About a decade ago, studies began to hint that many sharks have longer lifespans than previously suspected. Now, a new analysis that pulled together data from more than 50 studies suggests a “widespread” underestimation of lifespans among many sharks, rays, and cartilaginous fish.
Beachfront Pottery Pieces
The most relevant pieces have something to do with aging of sharks. The already existing Beachfront Pottery ceramic art pieces are in the “Ancient Shark” series.
In both of these pieces that ancient nature of sharks was expressed by the fossil brown hues of the glaze on the rope-like modules for the shark body. The sculptures intend to remind us the agility of the sharks, and their ability to be one with the water and the oceans.
The “Ancient Sharks” celebrate the unique ability of sharks to resist the pressures of 400 million years of changes, and to use their agility, their oneness with the oceans to keep resisting current and new pressures.
Inspirations for Future Ceramic Art Pieces
In addition to continue exploring the theme, and making new versions of the “Ancient Shark” series, the news article made me think about the following. The article shows a closeup of a greenland shark. The eye and the surrounding skin is very expressive, and it is something that might be worth constructing in ceramics. I also need to do research into the eyes of other shark species. Lots of possibilities are out there.