Eco-Art Competition 2022

To me, the theme “Plant the Seed” expresses both the damage that humans created on our natural environment, and the hope for solution and restoration to be taken. With the ocean covering two thirds of Earth’s surface, marine life has been heavily affected by wastes from human activities and pollutants from run-offs. Damage to water quality by contaminants is particularly detrimental. Marine species also often consume and are entangled by plastic debris, leading to severe injuries and even deaths. In my work, fish suffocated from swallowing plastic bags and the dolphin dead from hunger due to being entangled by the plastic rings exemplify how marine life can be harmed by human beings. Every time when I take a walk on the beaches, trashes can be seen everywhere. Just like in reality, my painting's background is filled with wastes and plastic bottles that humans leave on beaches and throw away into the ocean without notice. However, in the midst of this devastation and in contrast to the polluted background ocean that no longer retains its pure blue color, the “seed” floating in the remaining scoop of fresh and clean water brings hope to the wasteland. Through this artwork, I am hoping to raise people’s awareness on the harms that plastic wastes can have on marine life by showing them a close up look of our polluted beaches and alert people about protecting ocean water and our environments.