Reflection

The idea for Tears of the Nature came from a quiet realization: although I live near rivers, trees, and parks, I had barely noticed them. Everything changed when I learned about my school’s Environmental Engineering Club and their work studying pollution in the Hackensack River. Their efforts sparked a personal awakening. I began to reflect on the land I live on and how human activity harms it—and how I had been overlooking this reality. My sculpture was born from this shift. I collected fallen branches from my garden, painted them with watercolor to depict dying forests, used cotton to symbolize air pollution, and poured epoxy resin to represent polluted water. Transforming these materials into symbols of destruction was both physical and emotional. The creative process helped me feel deeply connected to nature and personally responsible for protecting it. Being creative makes me feel empowered. It allows me to express emotions and ideas I sometimes can’t put into words. I chose sculpture because I wanted my work to be immersive and tactile—something viewers could physically sense from all angles. I’ve worked with sculpture in the past, but this project pushed me to connect materials with meaning in new ways. Exploring the theme helped me understand that nature is not just something we visit; it’s something we’re a part of. Looking inward, I saw how distant I had become. Looking outward, I began to act—joining the club, analyzing environmental data, and creating this work. My message to viewers is simple: We are not separate from nature. Our future depends on rebuilding our relationship with the world around us—emotionally, physically, and collectively.