Author Michelle Hom (Third place)
Once Upon a Time captures a young girl Nova’s first time at the ocean, but in a
future where plastic covers every inch of land. Before the oceanic visit, she had only heard about the
beach from her parents’ childhood experiences and online websites. To her disappointment, there is no
sand in sight to build sandcastles or crystal-clear water to swim in. Nova looks in the distance at the sun
setting, dreaming of a future that is plastic-free. For her, white sandy beaches and sapphire blue oceans
are only found in stories that start with “once upon a time.” While Nova can only dream of a plastic-free
future, people today can make that wish true for future generations.
My idea started with the Mirror of Erised from Harry Potter, a mirror that reflects the user’s
deepest desires. Here, Nova’s deepest desire would be a plastic-free future that is in the distance. In the
artwork, her present is black and white, while the “reflection” is a colorful sunset that symbolizes her
hope.
Using contrasting colors and tones, I capture Nova’s feeling of disappointment and sadness
through the black and white color palette. In addition, the lack of color represents the lack of life in
Nova’s future, as the world’s natural wonders have become degraded by plastic litter. Then, the colorful
sunset and ocean symbolize the hope for a better future. Plus, the innocence of her age brings about the
truth of how she did nothing wrong to deserve this bleak future, and yet she must live in that world.