The aftermath of a forest fire

Fethi Belaid, Tunisian

The aftermath of a forest fire near the town of Melloula in northwestern Tunisia, near the border with Algeria, on Tuesday [July 25], 2023

This image is a part of a collection of images documenting the fires that have ravaged Europe and north Africa in 2023, curated by the New York times. It displays the impact of the fires that burned near Melloula. This image depicts a Tunisian woman returning to what is most likely her home that has burned down. This image is one of many that shows both the human impact and ecosystem destruction due to forest fires. The ash and char stand in stark contrast to the bright outfit worn by the woman. This image encompasses the human impact and destruction of climate change and the reality of living in the “pyrocene.” Label by Sam Dutilly

A Residential Street in Lahaina, Hawaii

Patrick T. Fallon, American

A Residential Street in Lahaina, Hawaii, 2023

This image was taken by Patrick T. Fallon of a residential street in Lahaina, Hawaii, following the wildfires that burned in early August of 2023. In the image is a street with the charred remains of homes that have been destroyed. Shot against the backdrop of the ocean there is contrast between the blue waters the Pacific Island is revered for and the scorched palm tree, leaves drooping from the burn. This image highlights the devastating reality of the fires, leaving thousands of people and families displaced. Communities like this are at the frontlines of the climate crisis, and this image puts into view the literal loss of resources to mitigate these events. Label by Annabelle Marcais

Playing My Part

Raman Uppal, United Kingdom

Playing My Part, 2022

Armed only with a watering can, one person watches a house burn. This painting shows how futile our individual actions feel towards stopping the inferno of climate change. There is a personal smallness in comparison to the problem. The fire is all-consuming, yet we are told we must “play our part” to protect the place we live. But how much of a difference can one watering can make? In this, we are paralyzed to inaction. It is corporations and governments who hold the power to change things. Transfixed by the fire, we hold our can but do not look away. Label by Lucas Theobald

Increasing Forest Fire Activity

Jill Pelto, American

Increasing Forest Fire Activity, 2015

This piece is taken from a series of works that Pelto is creating to bring awareness to the effects of climate change. In this series, Pelto combines natural scenery with real world scientific data to produce a call for action. Increasing Forest Fire Activity, inspired by intense fires in Washington state in 2015, depicts a forest fire scene, overlapped by a line graph which represents the historical increase in global temperatures. This intersection of art and data allows the audience to draw conclusions about the connection between global warming and wildfires. The inferno becomes more intense as the line climbs higher, further suggesting the same connection. Label by Jackson Schiminger