Oiled Dragonfly

Gerald Herbert, American

Oiled Dragonfly, 2010

Through photography, Herbert documented the Deepwater Horizon oil spill’s impacts on wildlife in Louisiana. This photograph depicts a dragonfly perched on a piece of marsh grass that is covered in oil. The dragonfly’s wings are also stained with oil, tainting what should be a beautiful, natural sight. The color juxtaposition of the blue dragonfly being consumed by the brown oil elicits feelings of sadness as we see the dragonfly helpless against the destruction of oil. Herbert uses art to show people why we should care about the large and small-scale impacts of oil spills on the environment. Label by Bayleigh Albert

Fishing in Lake Maracaibo

Adriana Loureiro Fernandez, Venezuelan

Diego, 14, Manuel, 13, and Miguel Méndez, 16, fishing in Lake Maracaibo, which has been polluted by oil leaking from damaged pipelines, 2023

Adriana Loureiro Fernandez's photograph depicting brothers fishing in a contaminated lake against the backdrop of heavy oil machinery is striking in both its composition and its portrayal of the wealth disparity wrought by the oil industry in their community. The image reveals the siblings using rudimentary fishing nets and small boats, highlighting their limited resources for survival and simple human needs. This stands in stark contrast to the vast sums of money flowing into the expansive industry that is not only causing them physical harm but also perpetuating social inequalities. Label by Jackson Smith

Oil Spill 3

Katherine DuBose Fuerst, American

Oil Spill 3, 2011

In this work, titled Oil Spill 3, the artist is depicting a clean-up effort of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This clean up method was setting the oil on fire to burn it out of the water. The large plumes of smoke rising from the trail of oil in the water signify the spread of our damage. From polluting the water, the decision was then to pollute the air, further widening the environmental degradation. The dense cloud drowns out the sun, invoking a feeling of despair, while literally darkening the scene. The covering of the sun signals the obscured future and grim consequences of our actions. Label by Annabelle Marcais

Niger Delta: A Documentary

Zina Saro-Wiwa, British-Nigerian

Niger Delta: A Documentary (film still), 2015

The image drawn from Saro-Wiwa’s documentary features a red, plastic chair offset by the moving waters of the Omo River. By design, the work is a peaceful testament to the Niger Delta and the life it contains and supports. While media narratives of the Niger Delta evoke mass violence in terms of ecological and societal devastation, Saro-Wiwa’s image offers an alternative depiction of the area. There are no vivid gas flares or aerial photographs of oil spillage, but the image is still potent in its portrayal of everyday interactions with the Niger Delta. Saro-Wiwa reminds the viewer that the Niger Delta still exists, that the environment and individuals are resilient, and that they can speak for themselves. Label by Eliza Madison