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.
Glacial Iridescence, 2022
Wood base, iridescent and chrome paint, plant - based epoxy resin, fiberglass construction
Diameter 110 cm, Mixed Media
The phenomenon of iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is an occurrence where the appearance of certain surfaces gradually alters color, dependent on the viewpoint or as the angle of illumination changes. Such a captivating marvel sends onlookers into a surreal, dreamlike state, irresistible to its transmuted rainbow-colored hues. Examples of said wonder include bird feathers, insect wings, the insides of certain seashells, and minerals such as opals. Moreover, a common observation with iridescence is often witnessed by the combination of oil, water, and light rays on wet roadways and surfaces, for instance.
The dizzying movement and color-changing effect of iridescence are but a part of the inspiration behind artist Natalia Kapchuk’s work, Glacial Iridescence, 2022. The other portion is due to the heartbreaking and continually growing development of oil exploration in the Arctic, as the Arctic contains an estimated 13 percent of the world’s undiscovered oil.
The expansion of oil and gas drilling by greedy, profit-driven companies in the Arctic Ocean may very well lead to tragedies like the spill of BP’s Deepwater Horizon and the Exxon Valdez disaster, contributing to the plague of climate change. The danger also threatens wildlife and communities, creating an invisible threat that could prevail for years, such as toxic substances lingering in ice or water and disruptions to the food chain of the Arctic ecosystem. Structurally portraying that of a polar icecap, the artist vailed her artwork in iridescent pigments, expressing the consequences facing our Arctic regions due to human activity. Such an opalescent appearance draws onlookers into the powerful subject matter behind its creation.