The Longer We Wait, The More It Takes
Sony Pictures and United Nations Foundations Picture This 2022 Grand Prize Winner
In the film, I tackle the issue of ocean pollution and the idea of acting now before it’s too late.
Choice - Clay Sculpture 2022 - 20 (L) x 12 (w) x 5 (h) inches - This sculpture is a continuation of my exploration of environmental issues. It is based on my encounter with a man who captures sea turtles and sells them for money. There can be two different interpretations of the sculpture: either the turtle is about to be captured and exploited or the turtle is about to be set free. The fragmented gold leaves on the turtle’s skin represent the liveliness of the turtle that gets peeled away after it is removed from its natural habitat. Alternatively, when the turtle has been set free, the gold leaves return as a sign of life.
Hope - Clay Sculpture - 2023 - 35 (L) x 35 (w) x 20 (h) inches - I sculpted a father penguin and his child stuck in their melting home. A painted red base is used to symbolize the rising sea temperatures. The ice underneath the penguins represents their only vehicle of hope and resilience. I intentionally used red ocean water to create strong contrast with the white penguin, thus making the audience think.
Future World - Charcoal and Ink on Paper - 2022 - 13 x 17 inches - I imagine a future where we are forced to build our cities as high as we can, forcing animals to live underground in burrows due to overpopulation, pollution from trash, and carbon emissions. In order to prevent this reality from happening, it is important to educate the younger generations of our time about sustainability and the importance of treating nature and the species that inhabit it with respect. Our present determines our future.
The Symbiotic Islands - Clay Sculpture - 2023 - 31 (L) x 22 (w) x 33 (h) inches - This symbiotic island is designed as a place of escape for humans in the case of an environmental catastrophe where land is no longer inhabitable. I designed the island with the intention of creating a space that strengthens the connection between humans and marine life while benefiting the ocean ecosystem.
(Process) Symbiotic Islands