Eco-Art Competition 2022

My acrylic artwork depicts the problem of air pollution in Warsaw, a city where I live. A girl is sitting under a tree near the Vistula river on the city outskirts. It is the only place she can take off her smog mask and breathe clean air. In the background, the downtown is very polluted, that's why it is painted in desaturated colors. However, the further the city it gets, the more vibrant colors are used. This contrast represents the significance of plants (especially trees) in our lives and their benefits. Despite the coldness in spring, new leaves start to grow, which symbolizes the girl's hope for a better future. She also looks up into the sky to emphasize it. As a citizen of Warsaw, I am deeply concerned about this issue. Each year 3 thousand people die prematurely due to respiratory diseases caused by air pollution in my area. Although local authorities try to alleviate the problem by introducing different environmental programs, smog is still a prevalent part of Warsaw's landscape. By painting this picture, I want to draw international attention to this problem of great significance and persuade those in charge that it is worth investing in planting trees and environmentally friendly technology to eradicate the problem for future generations. I hope that my painting will provoke those who view it and realize that their actions matter. Not only can individuals persuade the government to take action against air pollution, but also they can act on their own. Even such a small activity as planting a tree can make the world a better place to live in the future. That's why it is so important to raise awareness about that topic, and it was the reason I chose to illustrate it.