This August, the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, (IGCA) will host an invitational exhibition addressing the Anthropocene, the current era defined as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment. This is my submission for this exhibition, an oil painting titled, The Pangolin Prophecy.
The Pangolin Prophecy, 20” x 20” oil on panel, May, 2020
The Pangolin is one of the world's most vulnerable and trafficked animals, a possible vector for the corona virus. Some say the pandemic is the Pangolin's revenge. On the other hand, could this be our salvation?
All things are interconnected. When a species out of control upsets the natural balance, there is usually a check on this species, a crisis event that causes recalibration. Covid-19 may be our check, one that does not end in our extinction. Perhaps, Mother Nature has placed us on a time out, telling us all, "go to your room and think about what you have done!"
The pandemic has exposed profound social, ecological and ethical failures, laying bare structural racism, ecological degradation, income, justice and health inequality, a corrupt government and a ruling class willing to let us die in order to salvage their stock portfolios.
Yet, this pause has revealed our unique strength, the power of the people, the extent to which our collective efforts can effect massive positive change. Our unified effort to isolate in place saved lives of the most vulnerable. For the first time cities woke to clear blue skies and the possibility of a unified fight against Climate Change. Our collective energy transferred to the streets to protest racism, declaring in one voice, Black Lives Matter!
Mother Nature's time out is the chance to reset our priorities, reimagine the world we choose to live in. This may be the moment we wake up and gather to save ourselves.