Reflection

In my piece, I explore the “concrete jungle” sub-theme, highlighting the duality between the glorified illusion of achieving utopia (above whale) and the sacrifices necessary (whale bodies) often ignored. I chose to draw blue whales because they are an endangered species and symbols of human consciousness (Casteel). The piece is inked in black to highlight humanity’s portrayal of this complex reality as either “black or white,” dividing two sides as utopia/dystopia rather than acknowledging anything between. I developed the complex details to be overwhelming, and thrown at the viewer without warning, recreating the intense, shocked feeling I initially experienced. The deteriorating mother whale appears to some viewers as extremely exaggerated, leading them to question the extremity of climate change demonstrated through the animal. Ironically, a large portion of humanity fails to realize that the whale’s portrayal isn’t an exaggeration but rather a realistic portrayal of mankind’s effect on the environment. While the majority of us are left in disbelief, it raises the question: is anyone truly listening?