Print Details
Regular Edition
16 x 20 Inches
11-color screenprint
Printed on 100# Cougar Smooth Opaque paper
Limited Edition of 65
Signed & Numbered
Printed with ♥ by Static Medium
Variant Edition
16 x 20 Inches
12-color screenprint
Printed on rainbow holographic foil paper
Limited Edition of 35
Signed & Numbered
Printed with ♥ by Static Medium
Artist Statement
"I chose to address the issue of biodiversity loss for my piece “Troubled Waters”. When I began researching my topic, I became deeply alarmed to learn that the rate of animal extinction is 1-10 thousand times higher than the natural extinction rate, and marine species populations have declined by 49% just from 1970 to 2012.
One of the areas that have been devastated most by the growing impact of human activities is the oceans’ coral reefs, which act as the lungs of the ocean. In Florida alone, 80-90% of the coral has died and in just 30 years the world has lost 50% of its coral. Not only is this a terrible loss of life that deeply affects all of the species that live around and rely on the reefs, but this loss of coral also has resounding consequences in terms of the weather, as we see a change to the frequency and intensity of tropical storms.
I was deeply moved by the documentary “Chasing Coral” which looked at the devastation that global warming has unleashed on our oceans and highlighted the efforts of scientists to save the reefs from these massive bleaching events. One of these scientists was Dr. Ruth Gates, whose pioneering work in reef conservation through human-assisted evolution was also highlighted in Nova’s “Reef Rescue”. I was really inspired by her and the other scientists who continue to persist in their efforts to save these precious environments despite society’s indifference, so the main figure in my piece is the embodiment of their fierce and heroic efforts.
Because overfishing is one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss, I decided to show the figure and other creatures working together to free those caught in a net. I also thought it was important to highlight the threat of extinction so I made sure I included endangered species like the Humphead wrasse, the Loggerhead sea turtle, and the weedy seadragon."
- Kristen Liu-Wong -
Artist Bio
Born and raised in San Francisco, Kristen Liu-Wong attended Pratt Institute where she graduated with a BFA in Illustration. She has shown extensively in numerous galleries both domestically and abroad and in addition to her gallery practice, she has worked with an extensive range of clients on projects ranging from murals to editorial illustrations to clothing lines. Kristen now lives and works in Los Angeles.
Kristen’s work blends everyday occurrences from her life with abstracted nightmares and crude humor. Trained as an illustrator, she tries to tell a story with every piece she makes, developing a personal and slightly sinister narrative within each painting. Using vibrant colors, heavy patterning, and tight compositions, the work draws inspiration from a variety of sources including but not limited to American folk art, the cartoons she watched as a kid, Shunga, and her appreciation for architecture. She is always striving to make work that is highly personal but altered enough to allow individual interpretations to be applied to every story she paints.
The Story behind Troubled Waters
Kristen Liu-Wong