New World Transparent Specimens

Japanese artist Iori Tomita takes a colorful approach to highlighting the complex compositions of marine life creatures with his collection entitled “New World Transparent Specimens." Tomita was first introduced to the creation of transparent specimens for the scientific purpose of examining minuscule bone structure as an undergraduate student majoring in fisheries. The specimens' flesh is made translucent by a method that dissolves the creatures' natural proteins. The artistry of nature and man-made design converge when vibrant dyes are introduced to the delicate skeletal system. Selectively injecting red dye into the hard bones and blue into the softer bones, Tomita underscores the other worldliness of aquatic life.

Depending on its size, the process averages between four and six months to create each specimen, which are like a psychedelic version of Danish artist Stefan Dam's gorgeously creepy organisms.