Reflection

When viewed from the top of a skyscraper, the city appears as an overwhelming mix of complexity and order, yet it feels infinitely cold. Beneath this concrete lies the hidden truth: the polluted nature that sustains our urban life. I was inspired by the idea that what we consider sophisticated and convenient makes us overlook the destruction beneath. I imagined special glasses that would allow people to finally see this truth. Inside the lenses, I depicted nature being consumed by chemical waste while the outside world remained gray and cold. This contrast became the core of my work. Using an ink pen, I captured the sharp, mechanical, repetitive structures of the city. The pen helped me show how the complexity of the city came at the expense of nature’s richness. I used watercolor on the lenses to emphasize the difference. The vivid, flowing colors represent both the beauty of nature and the chemicals that damage it. This was my first time combining these two mediums, and the process challenged me creatively in new ways. Creating art is like discovering stories that are often overlooked. It allows me to communicate emotions and truths that are difficult to express in words. This project made me realize how easily we can ignore the damage to our environment when we are surrounded by development and convenience. The theme, “Connecting with Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside,” helped me think more deeply about what we fail to see and choose to overlook. What I hope to say through my piece is this: try to see things differently. Don’t just admire the city’s surface—look beneath it. Nature is still there, but it’s being overlooked, and it needs us to pay attention.