Reflection

Reflection

I created Pacific Currents to facilitate discussion around the ideas of global community concerning the environment especially around the Pacific Gyre. The Pacific Gyre is a patch of floating garbage swirling around the Pacific Ocean, from two to three times the size of Texas. This garbage patch is destined to exponentially grow if we as the human race do not act on it. Many initiatives have been formed, such as The Ocean Cleanup Project, but governments have not taken action to fix the problem. Due to the fact that the pacific garbage patch lies in international waters, nobody is taking responsibility for the problem; however each country should be contributing to solve this problem.

In my piece, I decided to address the Pacific Gyre in beautiful, rich colors to invite the viewer in. As soon as the viewer studies my piece, they realize the profound issue that is the pacific garbage patch. I represented the currents in the Pacific that sweep the garbage together in the background; in the midst of a clear blue ocean filled with rays of sunlight, I inserted plain black arrows following the paths of the pacific currents. Additionally, the subject, the plastics and kelp in the foreground follow the motion that the currents would create in the context of the piece. This feeling of motion makes the viewer further understand the swirling nature that truly causes our trash on a global scale to be collected into such a harmful patch.