Moana • 17 • Dublin

16-18 Category   •  2026
For this artwork, I wanted to explore nature as layered, complex, and constantly shifting, rather than fixed or idealised. I chose an underwater environment because it represents a vital yet often overlooked part of nature. Beneath the surface, ecosystems interact, adapt, and respond to change, and I aimed to capture this sense of movement and interconnection. The composition features an abstract aquatic scene with two fish as the central focus. They symbolise life, vulnerability, and survival, reflecting how living beings depend on their environment. Their positioning suggests motion and flow, echoing the rhythm of water and the idea that nothing in nature exists in isolation. The fragmented, layered space emphasises the delicacy of ecosystems and their susceptibility to disruption. I used watercolour and acrylic paint to create fluidity and depth, allowing colours to blend and overlap naturally. I also incorporated materials such as wire, rope, yarn, beads, bubble wrap, colouring pencils, and fragments of old book pages. These add texture and physical depth, encouraging close viewing. Some elements suggest currents or coral, while others evoke human influence, highlighting the connection between nature and humanity. Old book pages represent knowledge, memory, and the human attempt to understand nature, whereas rough textures like wire and bubble wrap introduce tension, symbolising disruption and human impact. Layering these materials blurs the boundary between natural and artificial, showing how ecosystems are shaped by both. Colour establishes mood: blues and greens create depth and calm, while brighter tones introduce contrast and energy, reflecting both the beauty and fragility of nature. Through this piece, I invite viewers to look beneath the surface, consider the complexity of natural systems, and reflect on the importance of protecting the environments that sustain life.