Enter the Eucalypt Painting

Humans often view themselves as apart from the environment in which they live—distinct from the natural world or “above” “mere” plants or other species. Yet the role of the “human form” on nature is immense. This painting, titled “Enter the Eucalypt,” scrutinizes the torso of a eucalyptus tree. Eucalypts are synonymous with Northern California today, but their non-native presence embodies a form of colonialism. With this painting I seek to blur the boundary between the eucalyptus figure and the human figure to encourage us to see ourselves within nature, with the goal of raising consciousness about humans’ continuing impact on their local environments.