Eco-Art Competition 2022

The theme of “Plant the Seed” to me expresses both the severity of the harm that human impact has created as well as the fundamental, necessary hope that the future can hold recovery and solutions. The “seed” symbolizes this hope and speaks to the need for innovation and action to combat environmental degradation. I believe in holding onto grounded optimism in the face of these issues because it allows us to envision a greener, more sustainable future. My work corresponds to this dual nature of the situation embodied by the theme. The background is colorless, with indistinct tree trunks and falling puzzle pieces depicting a vanishing forest; an environment losing its structure and collapsing. This visualization of decay incorporates the human element of the puzzle to remind the audience of humanity’s culpability in dismantling the natural environment and duty to help in its reassembly. The audience should confront the severity of humanity’s role in this process. The central figure in the work is that of a baby with wild, natural hair sprouting from its crown. This child, the personification of the “seed”, symbolizes the heart of nature. Although the environment around this child is collapsing and fading away, the heart of nature remains resiliently alive. While it is young and vulnerable, it grows on nonetheless and with the right care may be able to revitalize the environment around it. Once again, this speaks to the key role of us as humans to ensure that this seed is nurtured and protected so that it might bring about a better future. I intend for this connection to resonate with the audience and strengthen their emotional investment in the issue and plant the seed in them to engage in activism and advocacy.