Reflection

According to William Henry, “The eyes shout what the lips fear to say”. If that truly is the case, then Nguy thi Khanh is the eye that will shout for the Earth. Nguy Thi Khanh was raised in Vietnam, where her next-door neighbor wasn’t just local kids, but a coal power plant as well. Khanh aimed to raise attention to the climate’s desperate need for water conservation and served as the deputy director of the Center for Water Resources, Conservation, and Development. She expanded her horizons beyond that, however, and advocated to the people of Vietnam about the consequences of relying on coal for energy, and offered environment-friendly solutions through her organization the Green Innovation and Development Center. Her work in water conservation and striving to bring renewable energy to Vietnam were one of the most powerful influences on this piece. These elements are seen in the thick smog of the pupils, and in the relentless tears free flowing from the eye, portraying the toxic air and endless wastefulness of water that are becoming the new normal. The bright, bold colors of pop art were what shaped the style of this piece, the most noticeable parts being the unconventional blue and pink highlights that emphasized the lighter aspects of the painting. Rather than using the traditional natural color palettes to show color, I used intense yellows, vivid oranges, and muted purples to give the piece an artificial tone, the bright colors of the eye being just as unnatural as the smoke that blankets the atmosphere. Despite the lucid colors, however, A Sight for Sore Eyes has an aura of melancholy, portraying the feeling that all is lost for the environment, yet it also shows that Nguy Thi Khanh’s work will shine through the haze, staunching the seemingly irreparable wound on the world.