As oil and gas shape our social imaginaries, as they gesture towards our expanded capacities that characterise their importance, they remain largely materially imperceptible to the broad human population. Hydrocarbons burn with the hottest flame, ultramarine in hue. Meaning “beyond the sea”, this vivid blue, this end-all-blue, belies how it defines formidable global warming realities. As heat energy from increased carbon emissions accumulates in our seas, scientists predict mass mortality among phytoplankton that will not only massively disrupt the ocean food chain but because these tiny organisms absorb and reflect light, alter ocean colours to a deeper blue hue in the coming decades.                                                       

Considering emission-induced changes in ocean temperature, marine chemistry, sea levels, and current circulation catastrophically altering global weather, there is an urgency to profoundly re-envision ocean imaginaries, moving beyond the petro-capitalist framework that accelerates nature loss and triggers planetary tipping points. Yet, South Africa's economic development imaginary, Operation Phakisa, is pursuing 30 new offshore oil and gas wells by 2030, hoping to maximise all discoveries. 

The visual strategies Janet Solomon used in the documentary film Blue Burning are a central component of this effort, deepening convergence whilst offering useful insight into the broad, soldaristic political struggle-in-progress surrounding South Africa’s ocean commons. The creation of the Oceans Not Oil coalition—a diverse alliance of fisher collectives, coastal communities, indigenous groups, scientists, environmental NGOs, academics, and the general public— further attempts a platform for action informed by visual strategies to highlight counter-narratives in the public domain.