Elena Nechaeva
@elenanechaeva_
Objects of Attraction
How ecological systems become sources of material desireChrome plated steel, LED lighting
150x60x60 cm
2026
150x60x60 cm
2026
I am drawn to metal — to its shine, strength, and material possibilities. At the same time, I am aware that its extraction is often environmentally destructive.
This project is inspired by hydrothermal vents — deep-sea formations created when seawater enters cracks in the Earth’s crust, is heated by magma, dissolves
metals from surrounding rock, and rises back to the seabed as a superheated, mineral-rich fluid. When this fluid meets freezing ocean water, dissolved minerals precipitate, gradually forming chimney-like structures. Around these formations, unique ecosystems develop — sustained not by sunlight, but by chemical energy. These environments host species found nowhere else and are considered significant for understanding how life can exist without solar energy. Scientists believe that life on Earth may have originated in similar conditions.
Today, these same formations are being considered as sites for deep-sea mining, as they contain very high concentrations of metals essential for electronics, infrastructure, and energy systems. Extracting them would require dismantling structures that support fragile ecosystems.
The lamp takes the form of a hydrothermal vent chimney and is made of metal—the very material that makes these formations attractive for extraction. Its layered surface references mineral accumulation, while its light evokes the heat circulating within the vent. The gleaming surface is intentionally seductive: the beauty and shine of metal reflect the attraction that drives both extraction and consumption.
The project reflects on how ecological systems become resources, and how those resources return to us as objects of attraction.