Sketch for Survival 2021: Wild Spaces Shortlist
Congratulations to all the selected artists.
Sohee Joo, Seoul, South Korea
Rest Under the Tree
"I am an artist who believes that the most beautiful things in the world, above all, are in nature. I am studying fine art at a university, and I enjoy observing and expressing the trees and grass that are always in the same place but always changing. The Dragon Blood Tree only grows on the island of Socotra.I first discovered this special tree when I was young. With its many branches reaching into the sky, giving me a freeing feeling. Perhaps, the tired body and mind seems to be healed under the shadow of the dragon blood's tree. If that is the case, I would like to see the real dragon blood tree on the island of Socotra."
The judges said: "Intricately done and one of the most high profile endangered landscapes."
Janina Rossiter, Paris, France
Mangroves
"Blue Carbon is a term for carbon captured in coastal/marine ecosystems. According to UNESCO current estimates indicate that we lost half of all mangroves in the past 40 years. Protecting mangroves is extremely important because they are a key weapon in the fight against climate change. Mangroves reduce flooding and erosion from storms, are nurseries for fish, filtering pollutants, and storing more carbon dioxide than rainforests do. But when mangroves get destroyed or damaged they release the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere."
The judges said: "So much detail. Very topical. love that the colour is only in the water, and it’s beautifully done with lots of light and depth. "
Rebecca Lucas, Brighton, UK
Shifting Sands
"This painting is inspired by the coast of West Wales: a beautifully dramatic landscape that has borne witness to the interplay between humanity and the world we inhabit for thousands of years. This is a landscape that has been simultaneously worshipped and destroyed by people, and it is now a landscape in which people are battling to save from the damage we have wrought."
The judges said: "Hits 'wild' on the head. It’s energetic and remote and such places are in short supply these days. I love the use of brushstrokes and paint and the colour choices are perfect. "
