Entwine
Orlando, FL
2021, Senior, Art
Reflection
Reflection
When I look into the mirror, I see someone from the middle class, who lives in an affluent area, and who has taken clean, safe water for granted. I have never had to worry about drinking contaminated water, worry that my home will be flooded, or that my food source will disappear. And yet, these are issues that billions of people have to face. It is a privilege not to have to constantly think about these problems and environmental injustices, which play a critical role in the lives of many. I wanted my artwork to convey the idea that we are all interconnected through water and show how water contamination and environmental injustice overwhelmingly affect vulnerable communities, marginal groups, and the poor. Whether it is a fisherman who can't find food due to pollution, a woman whose town is slowly being flooded because of rising sea levels, or a child who is endangered by increasingly extreme weather events, water affects us all. Water is a mirror of society and how we think about it and utilize it, reflects economic, social, and political imbalances. I hope when viewers see this artwork, they can step back and consider how they view water. I hope the art prompts them to look into their reflection and see how the water reflects their political/societal/economic position. When I look into the mirror, I hope to see someone who has a better understanding of the importance of water, realizes that clean water is a finite resource, and who thinks about and conserves every drop. Personally, I will limit my meat consumption, collect rainwater for my plants, take shorter showers. With the average American using 80-100 gallons of water per day, every little action counts.