Reflection

Reflection

This is about the forest fire in my hometown Chongqing, August, 2022. “This wildfire is unprecedented for Chongqing.” “The entire sky is an orange-grey hue.” When I was painting this artwork, I was asking myself if there is no climate change whether this forest fire would be happened? Whether Chongqing’s summer will be less extreme? Whether, there is less people lost their life in that fire. I felt painful and regret. After the fire my mum and I went to the market by the Jia Lin river. The road, buildings, everything was covered in ashes. Because I have conjunctivitis, exposure to ash may cause a recurrence, resulting in redness and tearing of the eyes. So at that time, my tears blurred my vision, but there was something different. I vividly remember that stinging sensation, unsure if it was due to the grief of my friend's loss. It momentarily blurred the distinction between my conjunctivitis and the sorrow and helplessness felt by those who also lost loved ones and friends in this wildfire. Due to this emotion, I added the elements from graveyards and sky lanterns——refers to the longing to their loved ones and hopes. This wildfire is not an accident; it's more of a warning. It stems from the cause and effect of global warming trends. I want to convey a call to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions through my own story, from the orange-grey sky to the extreme and unusual heat, to the helplessness of longing. This is not isolated; severe fires have occurred in Canada, the United States, Greece, Algeria, and elsewhere. The common factor behind them is the unprecedented high temperatures and drought events in many parts of the world, exacerbating the risk of wildfires. I believe a spark can ignite a blaze. I hope to turn the lanterns in the painting into symbols of hope for people on the other side of the ocean, rather than fuel for another raging fire.