Reflection

The idea for this piece came by reflecting on my connection to nature as a Nigerian whose home is tropical and surrounded by wildlife. The subject of the piece - a woman grinding leaves with a mortar and pestle - reflects the reliance my community has on natural life for food, medicine, and everyday needs. I was inspired by the many women I know who work to provide these necessities for their families, using the natural resources around them. I used graphite and watercolour as they are my favourite kinds of media, and I have the most experience in manipulating them to depict a desired outcome. The contrast between the rough gray pencil and the fluid watercolours was also important in the composition of my piece, as I wanted there to be a focus on the woman, with the plants in the foreground blending into the background. My exploration has taught me the importance of healthy human interactions with nature, a give and take relationship. I hope my artwork conveys to viewers that humanity is not the enemy of nature, but working hand in hand with it can benefit both people and the environment, improving our overall quality of life.