Dana-Fiona Armour: Serpentine Currents

For its annual spring commission, Somerset House presents Serpentine Currents - Fragments of a Changing Future, a new courtyard installation from artist Dana-Fiona Armour, which combines sculpture, technology, and science, to raise awareness of issues surrounding marine ecosystems and changing ocean conditions.

Serpentine Currents marks the start of the Somerset House 2026 programme. The three-part sculpture, which is modelled on a 3D scan of an endangered sea snake species, will be illuminated day and night by mesh LED lights.

Animated by historic and predicted ocean data from the British coastline, these lights will react to rising sea temperatures and decreasing ocean salinity – evoking how sea snakes act as a bioindicators for ocean health.

Snaking across the Somerset House courtyard, and suspended above the dancing water fountains, the installation evokes the ebb and flow of ocean tides, while acting as a spectacular visual representation of ocean health - rendering visible the silent signals of the sea.

With Year of the Snake concluding in February 2026, and Earth Day taking place on 22 April 2026, this work is a pertinent reminder of the fragile state of the world's oceans, and it encourages audiences to look closely, imagine differently, and connect with the natural world through light and movement.

Dana-Fiona Armour said:

“Serpentine Currents - Fragments of a Changing Future looks to raise awareness about climate change and how marine ecosystems are degrading and changing in an accessible and visually engaging way.

“Sea snakes are a vital, but often overlooked, indicator of marine health. By focusing on these animals, and highlighting how their existence is being threatened, I hope to draw attention to wider ocean and ecological issues.”

Kinnari Saraiya, Curator of Serpentine Currents, said:

“We are delighted to be presenting Serpentine Currents in the Somerset House courtyard. 

“Having Dana’s sculpture situated in a public and accessible space is important to us, as all audiences can consider the vital, socially urgent issues the sculpture explores.”

Serpentine Currents is created from a 3D scan of ‘Aipysurus fuscus’, an endangered sea snake species listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The specimen was obtained from the collections of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris.

The installation’s lights will be animated by data gathered from oceanographic sensors at the British coast by CEFAS (Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences), drawing on 50 years of recorded sea temperature and salinity.

This data has additionally been extrapolated into the next 50 years, to imagine a future where sea temperatures have continued to rise, to the extent that sea snakes would be able to inhabit UK waters.  These data predictions are very much rooted in reality, should ocean temperature changes continue.

Dana-Fiona Armour first became interested in sea snakes during her residency at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, which continues until February 2026.

Dana-Fiona Armour added:

“Working at the convergence of art and science allows me to translate and demystify complex scientific ideas through a visual language. This act of bridging disciplines is both intellectually sustaining and a meaningful part of my practice.

“When it comes to snakes, fear and misunderstanding often overshadow their true nature. Through this installation, I hope to highlight their essential role within our shared ecosystem and invite a more thoughtful appreciation of these remarkable creatures.”

The Somerset House courtyard further provides a historically resonant setting for Serpentine Currents, as the building was once home to the Royal Society, a pivotal institution in the study of science and natural history, advancing knowledge in biodiversity and ecology.

*Please note: imagery represents a 3D simulation of the installation design.

ENDS