Reflection

My inspiration for this artwork came from an outdoor education trip to Chungju Lake. While kayaking, I noticed thick, green layers on the water that created an unpleasant smell. At the time, I didn't know what it was. Although I was disappointed that I couldn't swim in the lake because of it, I immediately knew that it was unhealthy, looking at the gloopiness that clung to rocks and surfaces invading the environment. Later in my science class, I learned about eutrophication and realized that what I had seen was an algal bloom. This helped me gain awareness of the negative environmental impacts of nutrient overloading in bodies of water. My goal was to create a visually appealing piece that delivers a strong message about algal blooms. I wanted my artwork to capture viewers' attention and make them curious about the environmental challenges we face. Researching climate change taught me about the 'overfeeding' of algae due to excess nutrients from human activities and the impact of natural phenomena such as sluggish water circulation and extreme weather events. Beyond individual actions like recycling, I plan to engage in more community initiatives that help these environmental issues. For example, participated in a local beach clean-up, helping to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean. By working together, we can make a bigger impact and help tackle climate change more effectively.