Reflection

Reflection

During early childhood, I spent countless summers in the rural areas of Russia, surrounded by vast, intimidating forests and crystal lakes. Enjoying a pleasant life detached from most technology, overwhelmed by the magnificent beauty of natural world, I had plenty of time to form a spiritual connection with nature and reflect on man’s relationship with it, a theme that prevails in this work. While creating this piece, I strove to accentuate the delicacies and fragility of the natural world despite its grand, magnificent appearance, through focusing my efforts primarily on elaborate detail, vulnerable to even the slightest mistake or imperfection in the guidance of the artist’s hand. Humanity’s relationship with nature is itself similar to an artist crafting their masterpiece: great care and vast attention to the larger picture is necessary for all aspects of the image to achieve stability and harmony. Man too must be careful in his actions against the environment, keeping in mind the tremendous scope of all consequences, lest there be dissonance and irreversible damage done to the natural balance in the future. However, as I completed my work, I realized that the future arrives sooner than anticipated. In our continuously developing world, it is important that people continue nurturing their connection to nature, whether through personal exposure or art, so that they come to comprehend its value and cultivate a desire to protect it.