"Crying Earth" was born from a close-up digital photograph of cracked earth, taken after a long period of drought. The image, printed on brushed aluminum, conveys the raw and arid texture of the earth, symbolizing the water shortage that is increasingly affecting ecosystems around the world. To contrast this drought, I added drips of blue acrylic paint mixed with smoothing medium, representing the climatic imbalance between too much water and not enough water, a direct consequence of climate change.
This work illustrates the growing paradox of freshwater ecosystems: on the one hand, prolonged droughts deplete water reserves, and on the other, extreme precipitations cause devastating floods. This imbalance, exacerbated by global warming, threatens the availability of water for humans and the survival of aquatic ecosystems. Sustainable resource management becomes essential in the face of these challenges.
The work echoes the findings of the study "Modeling the response of soil moisture to climate variability in the Mediterranean region", which highlights the impact of extreme climate events on soil moisture, particularly in the Mediterranean and in France. The study shows that climate variability reduces annual precipitation while increasing the frequency of droughts and torrential rains. These changes make water resource management more complex, impacting agriculture and natural ecosystems.
With "Terre qui pleure", I seek once again to marry art and science to raise awareness of the freshwater crisis affecting human communities and ecosystems. By layering powerful visual elements and scientific data, the work invites the viewer to reflect on the urgency of adopting more sustainable practices to preserve this vital resource, while highlighting the extreme contrasts caused by climate change.
