Reflection

Reflection

After revisiting my hometown of Shanghai, which was full of nostalgic childhood memories, I was discouraged to find that pollution had destroyed the skies and rivers. Through this painting, I wanted to examine the intersections between man-made structures and the natural world, and show how we must always be conscious of our coexistence with the oceans, rivers, and ponds. The rolling waves, restricted by the confines of a bathtub, are defined with the slow-drying medium of oil. The central figure reminds us that it is up to humanity to solve the climate crisis—without our active presence, this issue is meaningless. Even in the comfort of our homes, we must constantly recognize that our symbiotic relationship with the oceans never ceases to exist. We must develop innovative new strategies to revitalize them, like creating sustainable products or initiating ocean awareness through major policies. In recent years, the advances in technology for this cause has given me a newfound hope that this fight is not over yet.