Reflection

The presence of red lion fish as an invasion specie has brought considerable danger on the indigenous species across the Caribbean Sea and far up the east coast of Rhode Island of the United States as well as economical damage to the neighboring countries. I was inspired when snorkeling in Rhode Island that these elegant and beautiful creatures that I once adored can be disastrous from another perspective, hence driving me to engage in this contest to protect the world’s oceans. The artwork is created with acrylics on canvas and the hues are manipulated to emphasize the giant lion fish that appears much more dominating and powerful than the other species, showing that they are non-selective eaters and consume up to 20 individuals as a time. The overall color scheme and the coral coated with brown also suggests the bleaching of the corals due to the presence of lion fish, creating an urgent atmosphere. The faint white smoke surrounding the small fishes indicates the “illness” the population of the red lion fish has brought to the Atlantic Ocean by “suffocating” the indigenous populations. The name of the artwork also reflects the metaphorical meaning of the artwork, using the contrast between realistic and surreal art styles to create a ultimate focal point for the artwork.