Reflection

Reflection

This triptych explores my relationship with the ocean. As a former artistic swimmer whose passion for water grew into marine science through scuba diving and research, I’ve seen both the ocean’s fragility and resilience. My study of algae growth cycles showed how even slight changes in artificial seawater can disrupt marine life, reinforcing my belief that true protection begins with understanding nature’s own principles. The left panel confronts humanity’s harm - nets, plastic, and extraction that suffocate marine life. The middle panel presents an artificial coral ark with rusted joints and fractures, reflecting the flaws and limits of technological “solutions.” In contrast, the right panel celebrates untouched wildness, where reefs thrive on their own terms. Below, four critically endangered corals represent the fragility of even “protected” ecosystems and the tension between destruction and the rescue efforts used to justify it. Using the altarpiece format to evoke spiritual reverence, the work argues for proactive preservation rather than reliance on belated technological fixes. Ultimately, it calls for a shift from dominance to humility, recognizing that coexistence begins when we stop treating nature as a problem to be solved.