Silence by artist Dewi Plass

Acrylic on wood panel, 22.8” x 15.7”x 1”

Nature’s splendor never ceases to amaze me and to think that there are so many species that struggle to survive, is a scary, yet very real thing. I feel this struggle is somewhat muted in the media, especially for some of the ‘lesser’ known animals, which is why I chose the following endangered species from all around the world.

First, there’s the Gharial. This crocodile can be found in Asia, native to India, and is now critically endangered. This Gharial is accompanied by the Cinnamon-breasted Tody-tyrant, that can be found in Ecuador and Peru, but unfortunately is now classified as vulnerable, due to habitat loss. The same applies to the butterflies that surround them. They, to me, represent the fragility of the situation, and signify the liminal space between the here and the afterlife, which is why I chose them to represent the “muting” of this silent tragedy.