Reflection

Reflection

Thinking about the ocean, the first thing that came into my mind was anthropogenic pollution. It is no surprise that man-made pollution and accidents every day take a tremendous toll on ocean life, and I wanted to depict a work that reminds the audience of reality. With graphite pencils, I drew a city, the root of much pollution. I placed the buildings on a tray, which signifies the limitation of the earth's resources. In it, I designed a dome-like aquarium to emphasize both the vulnerability and the need for protection of marine ecosystems that often get neglected in humanity's quest for development and convenience. To depict this vulnerability, I used watercolors on a separate piece of paper and photoshopped onto the graphite drawing. The overall composition of the work became finalized after playing with various shapes and sizes. The graphite drawing was inspired by graphite artist M.C Escher. Through the Contest, I learned about the different types of pollution and multiple ways the ocean could be protected and sustained. Expanding my knowledge of seawater pollution, I am grateful for the opportunity to exhibit work that triggers the viewers to stop for a few seconds to think about their environmental footprint that they would otherwise dismiss.