Turn Around
Clifton, Virginia
2019, Junior, Art
Reflection
In my art piece, I conveyed the harmful effects of general pollution on the climate and how it negatively affects organisms. From fish choking on straws to aluminum cans being scattered in the ocean, there is no doubt that man-made products have had a detrimental impact on the ocean and the climate. The waves of color in the upper left corner and on the tree in the bottom right corner represent heat waves, and it shows how the change of the climate affects our plants which directly impact the air and water, which are colored grey and lifeless. The “presence of future” in my art piece is represented by the female individual who has her back turned towards the viewer, showing how many scientists, politicians, and society in general have chosen to turn their back on the impact of pollution on our oceans. The collaged-in square paintings represent the many dimensions of this issue. Put another way, there are layers to this problem and it is not something that will be solved just by recycling or reducing the use of plastics. Rather, a deeper solution starts with something much simpler: we must stop turning our backs to pollution and climate change; we must demand that our scientists and politicians express the truth and recognize that skepticism can easily become cynicism, distraction, and ultimately demise. The solution starts by turning around and acknowledging what is going on.