The focus of Natalia Kapchuk’s art is the beauty of the nature and the ecological threats the world is now facing.
The artist uses her art to champion causes that resonate with all of us, bringing our attention to the pollution and ills of climate change threatening our world today. The creative artistic process starts with extensive research on the topics of global warming, the pollution of the ocean through plastic and other destructive behaviors impacting nature.
As a result, the artist expresses the message that humanity should think more about environmental protections and the conservation of natural resources.
The Lost Planet collection of mixed media artworks emphasizes how the effects of human actions are changing and destroying nature.
“Plastic pollution is without doubt one of the major threats to our planet, and thus we need to tackle it through innovate angles. I believe that Arts have the power of touching people’s hearts, and that’s why we’re delighted to be part of Natalia’s exhibition and to help her to create an impact and to inspire many individuals to become change makers.”
— Juan Castaño Vilas, Regional Director, Plastic Oceans Europe, 2021
“The global environmental problems we face are caused by billions of individual acts and decisions — we are all in this together. Earthwatch, as a science-based organization works across sectors of society to motivate change through creating knowledge and inspiring action. Using art as a means of communicating the issues we face increases the numbers and diversity of people we can reach on these issues. We are therefore, thrilled to be part of Natalia’s exhibition.”
— Dr Neil Bailey, Director of Philanthropy, Earthwatch Europe, 2021.
Saharan Sands I, 2022
Fiberglass, wood, pigmented sand, flocking (repurposed sawdust), plant-based epoxy resin
Diameter 120 cm, Mixed Media
A sprawling sea of sand vailed in an array of rich red and golden-orange hues, the Sahara Desert is considered one of the many wonders of our planet. As the world’s largest hot desert and the third largest desert behind Antarctica and the Arctic, the Sahara Desert covers roughly 9,200,000 square kilometers of northern Africa—comparable to the continents China or the US. Derived from the Arabic noun ṣaḥrā, the word Sahara means “desert.” While the initial thought of any desert is that of barren uninhabitable land, the various deserts of the world are thriving with life! The Sahara, in particular, is home to over 70 species of mammals, 90 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles, and numerous species of arthropods. In like manner, though sparse, approximately 500 plant species are also present within this African desert.
While these facts are intriguing, the vegetation, wildlife, and overall ecosystem of the Sahara Desert suffer immensely from climate change and human activity. These issues include desertification, over-hunting, habitat destruction, elevated temperatures, wildfires, oil and gas production, irrigation for agriculture, poor soil quality, etc.
To bring attention and admiration to the remarkable Sahara Desert, artist Natalia Kapchuk designed the piece Saharan Sands, 2022, paying homage to North Africa’s “sea of sand.” Employing her signature mixed-media applications and techniques, the artist combines fiberglass construction, pigmented sand, and flocked epoxy resin to depict the breathtaking sights of the Sahara. As an environmentalist, it is essential for artist Natalia Kapchuk to articulate actions that we as a global society can implement to thwart the continuation of climate change and protect the region’s embattled fauna and flora!