Reflection

Reflection

As one of the myriads of individuals who live in a privileged and comfortable environment, can we ever grasp the gravity of climate change? Is solely understanding such a detrimental crisis enough? In my painting, I illustrate a mother photographing her daughter with a painting that portrays a ruined environment with African children in dire need of clean water. The stark juxtaposition of the characters and the setting satirizes how perturbing and ridiculous it is for individuals to claim that they care, yet at the same time, seem to be so negligent and complacent. The monochromatic colors evoke a sense of dejectedness and emptiness in the world. Nature paints the world with color and is what makes humanity beautiful. However, the destruction of nature, like the trees, water, and soil depicted in the frame, is also the destruction of animation and the well-being of humanity. It destroys the ultimate, intrinsic source of light and color that characterizes humanity. The gust of water that flows out from the frame suggests how the worlds are interconnected, and that actions have a lasting, long-term effect on the environment. Destroying our own environment means destroying the entire biosphere; but if we take accountability for the catastrophe we have caused and start making changes to our unsustainable, damaging actions, we can combat climate change together.