Reflection

Reflection

As an avid aquarium hobbyist, I have kept all sorts of aquatic life, ranging from bettas and tangs all the way to my current interest, discus fish. Consequently, I am very passionate about the diversity and beauty of coral reefs, which are something we must protect on our dear Earth. My artwork seeks to explore one of the more hidden yet still highly detrimental forms of damage to reefs, which is sunscreen. Many sunscreens contain oxybenzone, which contributes greatly to the bleaching of corals and the loss of reefs and their inhabitants. According to TIME, around 4000-6000 tons of sunscreen has entered coral reefs throughout the world due to swimmers slathering it on before going out into the sea. If we want to protect the reefs and the creatures that depend on them, we must be more considerate of what we put into the ocean, even if it is inadvertent or beneficial to us.