Christian Lassen with Japanese student
leaders at a conference in Tokyo 1991

Inspired by the ocean and the aquatic creatures he loves, Christian Riese Lassen founded the SeaVision Foundation in 1990. His expressed intention: to support efforts to restore the quality of the Earth's waters and preserve the diverse species that inhabit the undersea realms.

"Through SeaVision," Christian states, "we're going to have a major, major impact." SeaVision's initial endeavors involved both charitable contributions and the production of environmentally - oriented television commercials featuring the artist's marine paintings.

Ten percent of Galerie Lassen's profits are donated to environmental groups - most prominently the Pacific Whale Foundation - who provide research and data for groups lobbying for legislative changes. To further those causes closest to his heart, Christian formed a partnership with that organization in 1991; the information it provides is a very powerful tool for restricting destructive fishing practices and pollution.

It is Christian's hope that eventually large corporations will join the SeaVision to enhance their environmental image, and thereby be won over to an alternative perspective. "Large corporations have enormous power. They can make a difference. Rather than create polarity between environmentalists and big business, I see us working together. We can do it."

"SeaVision," Christian says, is a positive organization. "It's not a foundation that's out there brutalizing people with images of destroyed environments and animals. I want it to have a positive message - that the whale population has increased 35% over the last ten years, and so on. I want people to know that some things are changing; some things are getting better."