Through My Eyes

Diya K.

Acrylic paint on plexiglass

• Artist Statement

  When visiting the Maui Marine Center, I was shocked to learn that thousands of whales are killed annually for profit. The documentary Lamafa that I watched afterward brought to life the gruesome visuals of whale poaching. I created this acrylic painting to raise empathy for the issue by portraying the impact of poaching through the perspective of a whale’s eye. Through this piece, I experimented with perspective by using magnets to stagger the paintings into three layers. Each layer plays a specific role: the outermost layer invites viewers to look into the emotions in the whale’s eyes, the middle layer depicts the gruesome sight that the whale is witnessing, and the largest, bottom layer reveals the reality of the poached whales. Through this point of view, I want to highlight that a shift is needed; rather than exploiting animals, we should recognize them as equally deserving living beings.

• Creative Statement

  Creativity represents a space where I express my own emotions and life experiences. The catharsis of creating has inspired my desire to employ the arts not just for self-expression, but also to raise awareness about underrecognized societal issues. It embodies a medium through which I can change people’s perspectives.