You’re strolling along a beautiful beach, waves lapping at your feet, when suddenly you stumble over… a discarded plastic bottle. Mood ruined, right? Well, for Meike Schützek, that’s just another day at the office – and inspiration for her next masterpiece.
Welcome to the world of Ocean. Now!, where saving the seas is less about white lab coats and more about white canvases. It’s the mission of Meike, a woman who looked at the vast, polluted oceans and thought, “Hmm, needs more Banksy.”
“We are an ocean protection NGO, and our concept is to work with the power of art, to strengthen the engagement for Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water),” Meike explains.
But don’t let the artistic flair fool you. Ocean. Now! isn’t just about pretty pictures – it’s about making waves in the world of conservation. And wow, are they making a splash.
From E-commerce to E-co Warrior
Now, you might be wondering, “How does one go from peddling products online to saving the seven seas?” Well, it’s a tale as old as time… or at least as old as the internet.
Meike confesses, “In my previous life in e-commerce, I contributed to the problems humans cause, as the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. I was caught in the ‘performance hell’.”
Ah yes, “performance hell.” It’s like regular hell, but with more KPIs and fewer pitchforks. But Meike decided to trade in her business suits for a wetsuit and dive headfirst into ocean conservation.
“I decided to say no to the ‘higher, faster, further’ and instead, to give back to what feels like my home, the ocean,” she declares. It’s like “The Little Mermaid” in reverse, except instead of growing legs to chase a prince, Meike’s growing a conscience to save the fishes.
Artivism: Where Creativity Meets Conservation
Now, you might be thinking, “Art? To save the oceans? What’s next, interpretive dance to stop global warming?” But hold onto your beret, because Ocean. Now! is proving that art can make waves in conservation.
Their first campaign, “In Your Face,” wasn’t about slapping people with seaweed (though we’d pay to see that). Instead, they collaborated with conceptual artist Swaantje Güntzel to create a photo series that’s part beauty shot, part horror show, featuring models with plastic waste smeared on their faces. Makeup tutorial gone wrong.
And guess what? It worked. “It generated over 15 mio. views in media, we exhibited the photo series 11 times, and made it into a school book with it,” Meike boasts. But the real kicker? “We contributed to the legal ban of microplastics in cosmetics on the EU level.” Culture actually can change the world.
Fashion Victims: The Sequel
Not content with just one mic drop, Ocean. Now! is back at it with their new campaign, “Under Our Skin.” This time, they’re taking on the fashion industry faster than you can say “polyester.”
Their goal? To get 200,000 signatures on a petition addressing Adidas. Because nothing says “we care about the oceans” like pressuring a company whose logo is literally three stripes of water… or are those supposed to be mountains? Either way, they’re in Ocean. Now!’s crosshairs.
Why So Serious? (Or Not)
When asked why she’s doing all this, Meike gets deep. Like, Mariana Trench deep. “Because I feel one with the ocean. It’s the reason why I am on this planet.” It’s beautiful, really. Some people find their purpose in religion, others in philosophy. Meike? She found hers in H2O.
But don’t let the profound mission fool you. Ocean. Now! knows how to keep it light while tackling heavy issues. Their approach is less “gloom and doom” and more “bloom and zoom.” They’re turning the tide on ocean conservation, one artsy campaign at a time.
Join the School (of Fish)
So, what can you do to help? Well, for starters, you can sign their petition here. It’s like adding your name to a giant “Get Well Soon” card for the ocean. And if you’re feeling extra generous, you can donate. Think of it as buying the oceans a drink – they could certainly use one after all we’ve put it through.
Meike believes the impact community “needs to become bolder and louder to become a proud movement that eventually becomes the mainstream.” So go ahead, make some noise! Shout about ocean conservation from the rooftops! Or, you know, maybe just share this article on social media. Baby steps.
At GICA, we’re all about supporting initiatives that combine activism, impact economy and the creative industries. It’s called SDG17 and we love it. Want to dive deeper into the world of impact? Swim on over to gica.community and join our school of change-makers. Maybe even get inspired with our article on Micha Fritz’s Viva con Agua.
Remember: Every time you support Ocean. Now!, somewhere in the world, a mermaid does a happy dance.
The future of ocean conservation is bold, it’s loud, and thanks to Ocean. Now!, it’s surprisingly photogenic. Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to sign an Adidas petition.
Meike on LinkedIn? Here!
