‘Aquarius Art Tunnel’- Mumbai born marine conservation artist creates one of the largest aquariums inside Houston Airport
By creating a 240-feet installation at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Houston-based contemporary and marine conservation artist Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee has become the only South Asian and Indian female artist to be included in the Houston Airport System art collection.
Titled ‘Aquarius Art Tunnel’, the project was commissioned on behalf of the Houston Airport System for Houston through the city’s Civic Art Program and Houston Arts Alliance, it has also been endorsed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Sanctuary in Galveston.
She was selected out of 347 artists and delegated the task of creating the largest art installation out of the 10 art commissions awarded by the Houston Airport System.
She is proud to address it as her tunnel, interestingly the artwork is displayed at the tunnel that connects to the international terminal from where people fly out to India. She voluntarily applied for this location when asked to opt from three other locations.
Having a special connection with water ever since she saw the coral reefs during deep sea dive in Lakshadweep trip after completing her graduation in art from Chicago, she staunchly believes in the power of manifestation. The project in public space aims to educate and incentivise the people about the beauty of marine life and perils of polluting the sea water because they didn’t see it before as they did not have opportunity to dive.
This artwork can be found on Google Earth as well, apart from this her public works also include an important commission from the Red Cross Society in Mumbai.
