Kapok Tree By Alexis Rockman
The many elements of “Kapok Tree” forces observers to take a second glance at the mesmerizing components the artist, Alexis Rockman, utilizes to emphasize his message of beauty existing in the dark, starry nights of the jungle. The painting portrays a first-person view of the jungle, facing up towards the starry sky. At a first glance, the eyes are moved towards the lower center of the painting and you see a lively environment scattered with different wildlife. But as your eyes move up the painting, it switches into an eerie and mysterious environment overpowered by tall, ominous, and dark trees. However, the more one stares at the dark part of the painting, the less overpowering the trees become; the sky is composed of light hues of blue and
gray, with contrasting specks of white to represent the multitude of stars. In the lit up part of the painting, there are different types of leaves in various shades of green and are similar to leaves seen on tropical trees. Additionally, the vibrant colored frogs also give this painting some context of being in a tropical forest or jungle. Furthermore, Rockman delicately places droplets of water on the leaves to mimic the humidity of a tropical setting.
Although the image appears striking due to the contrasting colors, the artist’s message is more profound. Rockman includes a bat that is a natural predator of the harmless, small frogs. However, the frogs do not appear to hide from the bat itself; in fact, the frogs appear to hide from something in front of them. Namely, the frogs do not fear the natural predator, they fear the one who perceives them. Hence, Rockman depicts the image as it is in order to reveal the harm and fear humans have become for wildlife. That is to say, this work of art comments on the predatory effect humans have had on nature and specifically to tropical environments. Moreover, Rockman presents this image to allow observers to realize the vibrant and beautiful environments that are destroyed due to human’s insatiable demand for land and wood.
gray, with contrasting specks of white to represent the multitude of stars. In the lit up part of the painting, there are different types of leaves in various shades of green and are similar to leaves seen on tropical trees. Additionally, the vibrant colored frogs also give this painting some context of being in a tropical forest or jungle. Furthermore, Rockman delicately places droplets of water on the leaves to mimic the humidity of a tropical setting.
Although the image appears striking due to the contrasting colors, the artist’s message is more profound. Rockman includes a bat that is a natural predator of the harmless, small frogs. However, the frogs do not appear to hide from the bat itself; in fact, the frogs appear to hide from something in front of them. Namely, the frogs do not fear the natural predator, they fear the one who perceives them. Hence, Rockman depicts the image as it is in order to reveal the harm and fear humans have become for wildlife. That is to say, this work of art comments on the predatory effect humans have had on nature and specifically to tropical environments. Moreover, Rockman presents this image to allow observers to realize the vibrant and beautiful environments that are destroyed due to human’s insatiable demand for land and wood.