Artist statement

Our actions, driven by our ignorance and ambition, have become the accelerators of climate change, paving the way for rising sea levels that wreak havoc upon our fragile coastlines. We then find ourselves as unwitting victims, as the world around is destroyed by this impending climate disaster leading to humanity’s literal downfall. A continuous cycle unfolds: mistakes, consequences, perseverance, and eventual surrender to our inevitable fate. The sequence of events serves as an important reminder of the finite timeline of human life along with the uncertain fate of the world we inhabit. The fragility of existence is presented before our eyes as the natural landscape is devastated by human hands. Traditional representations of landscape artwork are subverted to highlight the contemporary issue of coastal erosion and the anthropogenic impact on this landscape.

Process

We are the Waves – Tides of Fate combines a sequence of physically eroded panels alongside a video portraying human-induced erosion. Sand panels were constructed as the ground for various landscape paintings and then exposed to crashing waves, inducing physical erosion of the painting and the panel. The panels were then encapsulated in clear resin. The video consists of a sequence of images that have been edited to portray the figure embodying the ocean, then arranged into a stop-motion video. 

About the artist

I have an interest in exploring coastal landscapes through both painting and video media. I use my art to portray environmental issues and our importance as humans to care for the world around us. I hope to pursue a career in the design industry and plan to study a Bachelor of Architectural Design.