Plastic Flowers Never Die
BY LEE DAVENPORT
In this artwork, Lee channels visceral memories of the planet’s current state. Wildfires across the globe have darkened the skies into dense masses, contaminating even the light of the sun. The smoke is so thick it feels tangible, leaving a heavy residue on the observer. This sickly sky meets a horizon of garbage, floating aimlessly on an oily body of water. Surrounded by floating debris, the figure faces the red light of the smoke-consumed sun, alone in an empty world, holding a plastic sunflower that turns away, too ashamed to confront the terrible truth.
The painting is a striking expression of Lee’s perspective on the climate crisis and the sense of hopelessness regarding the planet’s future. While the scene may appear exaggerated, it is entirely rooted in reality, representing the current state of the environment and the overwhelming suppression of hope.
ABOUT LEE
Lee is a visual artist deeply inspired by the idea that artworks can tell visual stories and hold multiple narratives within them. By employing a variety of mediums and processes, they explore fantastical spaces and capture moments that best represent the subject matter. Utilizing bright, contrasting colors and diverse expressions to hint at details within each narrative, Lee’s work creates elaborate puzzles of story elements for the viewer to interpret. Altogether, Lee develops images that immerse audiences in the events of these worlds, allowing viewers to become absorbed in the scene and experience a connection to an original narrative beyond their own.