Pillars of The Sea

Title: Pillars of the Sea A celebration of art, craftsmanship, and marine life, Oceanus Waterfront Mall made history with the tallest hand-cut mosaic columns recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records in 2016. It started with an idea to create an artwork that is awe-inspiring and at the same time portrays a message that resonates with both locals and tourists alike. The artwork should embody the spirit of the Oceanus Waterfront Mall. It should hold great significance, and it should be iconic. What resulted from a mere idea was the creation of four multi coloured hand-cut mosaic columns, known as the ‘Pillar of the Sea’. Each column is approximately 18.5 meters in height and spans four floors, from the floor of the concourse level to the ceiling of the second floor. The towering height of these columns earned them the title of ‘The Tallest Hand-Cut Mosaic Columns in Malaysia’ by The Malaysia Book of Records. Sea Turtles: Sea turtles are among the most endangered sea creatures worldwide, with their population declining rapidly over the years. These highly migratory animals are believed to have existed for some 200 million years. There are five species of marine turtles found in Malaysia, with three of them nesting in Sabah. They include the Green turtle, the Hawksbill turtle, and the Olive Ridley turtle. Excessive loss of breeding and nesting habitat, as well as illegal poaching of turtle eggs, has threatened the survival of the sea turtles. Stingray: While many stingray species’ populations are still considered healthy, the Giant Freshwater Stingray is in serious decline in Asian countries such as Thailand and Cambodia, where it used to be commonly found. The Giant Freshwater Stingray is considered the largest freshwater fish in the world, growing up to 1.9 meters in length and reaching up to 600kg in weight. The species is found in the Kinabatangan and Buket rivers in Sabah. Overfishing and deforestation, which lead to a loss of habitat, have put the Giant Stingrays on the decline. Jellyfish: Jellyfish aren’t considered an endangered species, though some of its species are close to extinction. In fact, on the contrary, the numbers of jellyfish that swim in our ocean are higher now than ever before. The rise in jellyfish has plenty to do with climate change and the problem of overfishing. Jellyfish thrive in warmer waters. Furthermore, overfishing reduces the jellyfish’s sea competitors and its predators. In short, the unwanted increase in the number of jellyfish is directly linked to human actions. The rising number of jellyfish is making it increasingly dangerous for us to swim in the seas. The jellyfish reminds us of the problems that we are helping to perpetuate that have a direct impact not only on our surroundings, but also on us. Dolphins: Dolphins are intelligent and highly social animals. There are 27 species of whales, dolphins, porpoises, and dugongs recorded in Malaysian waters. In Sabah, many species of dolphins have been sighted. Most notably, the Irrawaddy Dolphins are commonly seen along the Kinabatangan River in Sandakan and Cowie Bay in Tawau. Unfortunately, due to depletion of prey resources, pollution, and increasing loss of habitat, at least six species of dolphins found in Sabah waters are in danger of extinction.