As someone who has spent most of my life outdoors, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the ocean and the natural world. This piece comes from a place of frustration and sadness, shaped by witnessing the damage pollution has caused to places that should feel alive, wild, and untouched.

The whale is made entirely from trash, representing how human waste has become embedded in marine life and ocean ecosystems. I wanted the whale to feel heavy, exhausted, and overwhelmed, not only by the physical weight of the debris, but by what it says about human consumption, carelessness, and our impact on the planet.

The divers pulling pieces away represent the people working to undo that damage, even when the task feels endless. To me, they symbolize both the urgency of action and the hope that we can still choose to protect what remains.

Ollie Smither