Reflection

Most people think of sea turtles, fish, or other aquatic life when discussing ocean awareness. However, in reality, the devastating consequences of the climate crisis extends far past just sea-dwelling creatures. In recent years, dead seabirds have been discovered on shores all over the planet, their bulging stomachs ruptured and spilling out diverse assortments of human trash. Bottle caps, puzzle pieces, and plastic bags that were mistaken for food now replace the birds’ natural diet of fish and krill. Unfortunately, however, the issue is deeper and more serious than it may seem. Plastic production is a process that generates large amounts of environmentally harmful byproducts. In fact, about 99% of all plastic is manufactured using fossil fuels. Consequently, the massive greenhouse gas emissions get trapped within Earth's atmosphere, raising global temperatures. This ecological imbalance causes erratic weather patterns, which can take place in the form of floods or storms. During these events, debris is often swept to sea, becoming waste that lingers in the water until it eventually disintegrates--or until a creature, such as a seabird, accidentally consumes it. My artwork aims to address this heartbreaking reality through a metaphoric approach. The deteriorating house in which the birds are in reflects the condition of their home in reality, and the table represents Earth’s polluted and overflowing waters--the result of the changing climate. In the corner, a handless clock rests on the wall, indicating that there is no more time left to resolve this issue. I created this piece in hopes that it will stimulate action to fix the seabirds’ home. Not only is Earth their home, but it is also ours, and there is not much time to repair it before it collapses.