Transforming Oil Rigs: Marcos Lutyens’ Vision for Ecological Reclamation

Breaking the Wall of Reclaimed Oil Rigs

Winner Interview 2024: Art & Science

Marcos Lutyens is spearheading a groundbreaking project to transform decommissioned oil rigs into thriving artificial reefs. Confronting entrenched pro-oil mindsets and bureaucratic inertia, Lutyens combines comprehensive research, expert collaboration, and powerful artistic expression to advocate for sustainable ecological futures. Through imaginative art installations and strategic public engagement, his work aims to inspire a radical shift in ecological perspectives and preserve marine habitats along the California coast. Discover how Lutyens’ innovative approach is breaking barriers and reimagining the role of oil rigs in our environment.

Which wall does your research or project break?
Breaking the Wall of reclaiming oil rigs. Like the fall of the Berlin Wall which took 28 years of totalitarianism to overcome, we seek a radical mental shift in ecological perspectives. The project aims to transform the entrenched pro-oil and anti-ecology mindset that has been plaguing decision-makers and many communities up and down the coast of California. The path towards capping the oil wells and stopping oil drilling off the California coast has not been an ecological decision, but rather one of economics as the remaining oil reserves under the sea bed have been depleted. 

In terms of the decision as to whether the oil rigs should transition from climate change inducing drilling rigs to ecological reefs that help repopulate the oceans and that support billions of creatures is being made, it’s clear that one needs more than committee meetings and public hearings to affect change. Just recently the federal government issued a statement at a public hearing, without taking questions, in which, despite 30 years of careful ecological census gathering of living organisms under the rigs, the federal government has unilaterally decided to dynamite all the rigs in federal waters, killing all the life forms including fish and invertebrates on the rigs. It’s clear that art is needed as a way of inspiring a radical shift in thinking, as the usual processes of public outreach by the "powers-that-be" are summarily ignored. It is via stimulating the imagination through art that change can happen.

What are the three main goals of your research or project?
1. Comprehensive Research and Analysis of Offshore Oil Rigs

Objective: Understand the history, ecological importance, and policy issues surrounding California’s offshore oil rigs to argue for their preservation as artificial reefs.

Actions:

• Historical and Policy Research: Investigate the evolution of offshore drilling in California, focusing on past regulations, economic motivations, and decommissioning processes.

• Ecological Impact Assessment: Analyze existing data on the marine life supported by these rigs and the ecological roles they play as artificial reefs.

• Stakeholder Analysis: Map out the key stakeholders in the decision-making process, including government agencies, oil companies, and environmental groups, to understand their influences and interests.

Deliverables: A comprehensive report on the rigs’ history, ecological impact, and stakeholder dynamics.

2. Engage with Experts and Build a Collaborative Network

Objective: Form a network of marine scientists, conservationists, and cultural advocates to support the transition of oil rigs from drilling sites to ecological reefs and cultural hubs.

Actions:

• Expert Consultations: Continue collaborations with marine biologists like Dr. Milton Love and Dr. Ann Bull, and organize workshops or discussions with additional experts.

• Networking: Establish partnerships with academic institutions, environmental organizations, and research centers.

• Educational Outreach: Create educational materials and host events to raise public awareness about the ecological benefits of transforming oil rigs.

Deliverables: A network of experts and advocates, and a series of educational materials and public outreach events.

3. Artistic Strategies to Influence Public Opinion and Policy

Objective: Utilize art to inspire a shift in public perception and advocate for the preservation of oil rigs as marine habitats and cultural centers.

Actions:

• Artistic Projects: Develop art installations and exhibitions that envision oil rigs as thriving marine environments and cultural spaces. Upcoming exhibition (August- December 2024) as part of the Getty Museum's Pacific Standard Time at Oceanside Museum of Art.

• Media Campaign: Launch a media campaign using art to highlight the benefits of converting oil rigs into reefs and engage the public.

• Community and Policy Engagement: Organize community events combining art and discussions to influence policy decisions.

Deliverables: Art installations and exhibitions, a media campaign promoting rig-to-reef transformation, and records of community and policy engagements.

What advice would you give to young scientists or students interested in pursuing a career in research, or to your younger self starting in science?
Perhaps the best example that I can think of is encouraging my then 6 year old son to develop a project to monitor the pollution on the LA river. The project took about 4 years to come about but in doing so my son learned how to change the world through action and engagement. I'd say always think outside of the box and find your own path to change the world in creative ways. Team up with allies as needed in terms of science and technology, as well as community organisers and people willing to change the world.

What inspired you to be in the profession you are today?
I've always felt compelled to be an artist and engage a wide audience through my creative work, aiming to inspire imagination and provoke thought.

What impact does your research or project have on society?
Research on the impact of offshore oil rigs on reefs can inspire art that visually represents environmental changes, raising awareness and fostering public engagement through compelling, thought-provoking pieces that highlight the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems.

What is one surprising fact about your research or project that people might not know?
The origin of the modern environmental movement can be traced back to the significant environmental oil rig related disaster off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, in 1969. This event marked the beginning of a new era in environmental activism and had far-reaching effects on environmental policy and awareness.

What’s the most exciting moment you've experienced over the course of your research or project?
I'm not sure if exciting is the word. My science colleagues were given a gag order by the State Lands Commission that they could no longer communicate with anyone about the rigs situation. On a more positive note I had a good time at the Oxnard Ocean Day event where positive changes are being made in terms of shipping and ecology.