Reflection

Oil spills, during cleanup efforts or natural processes such as weathering and evaporation, release significant amounts of methane and carbon dioxide directly into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately exacerbating the negative effects of climate change such as rising temperatures. Living next to the ocean all my life, there has been an undeniable attachment between myself and the vast blue scenery. The countless hours of swimming and snorkeling in the summers have worked to cement the ocean as an inseparable piece of me, defining who I am. Learning about the catastrophic effects of oil spills on the world in school has allowed me to take initiatives to raise awareness, and what better medium than with art? Art is also a huge piece of me ever since my childhood, and so I decided to combine my interest and passion in the arts with my concerns on the climate change and the environment. My installation piece ’Fragile Beauty’ draws inspiration from Earth’s oceans. The inner portion turns unpredictable shapes into a smooth pattern, mirroring the picturesque ebb and flow of the nostalgic ocean waves I remember in my childhood and taking the vague shape of a living marine creature, while the outer portion shields and protects this fragile form. Topped with the beautiful yet dangerous colors of oil spills, this piece works to visually represent the damage of human activity on precious marine life. Viewers are confronted with the environmental impact of human activity on marine ecosystems in this evocative piece and are thus encouraged to reflect on the relationship between our actions and the future of humans. More importantly, this piece reminds and educates viewers to dig beneath just the beauty that is apparent on the surface.