Student Gallery

Paolo Fajer (age 18)

Mexico City, Mexico

I took this photograph in 2020 at the Inbursa aquarium. My dad is a photographer and he always takes me to these kinds of places to take pictures. Most of the time they are nature photos; be it landscapes or animals. This has always helped me to connect more with a reality that has been here longer than us; it is a completely different world that we rarely value. I think about how these beings are on the margin of absolutely everything that is human and are a gift of nature. While I am alive, breathing, aware of what I am seeing, this creature is also existing in the same frequency and energy, dedicating itself to existing. Although I have no way of communicating with him or relating to him in a human way, I feel a very real connection, a love that is not human-it is natural.

The love of coexisting in this same universe, the love of appreciating its beauty and feeling the energies that surround us, it is a love story that no matter how much I am living it, it is not mine; it belongs to everyone because we all coexist and live on this planet. From a being that is not aware of its own existence to that energy that we do not understand but feel—some call it god. I do not know what to call it. I feel this every time I see the way our world works, the very organic way of simply existing and being beautiful. This is my love story with nature, with this photo and with what I don't know, but I feel love and intrigue for. My message to the world is simple: Why disturb what is calm? Why damage what is part of us? Why destroy what is perfect and why not just try to understand it? We must learn to live this love story with nature.

Ava Pecora (age 15)

Ohio, U.S.

This painting is the embodiment of being one with the natural environment. It is supposed to illustrate that nature is beautiful in every form—from the plants and atmosphere to humans and magical creatures. The green is meant to symbolize the liveliness and tranquility of forest life. Green has many different meanings, such as calmness, safety, growth, harmony, and most importantly, the environment. The figure has a deep emotional connection with the woods and is completely immersed in the environment. The area around them is abundant with forest plants and creatures. This makes for a certainly magical universe.

Meagen Krige (age 16)

Caledon, South Africa

My artwork is inspired by the vulnerability of animals. All over the world animals are being affected by climate change, poaching, loss of habitat, and destruction of our wonderful ecosystems. Most of these destructive forces happen because of the species called mankind. This photo was taken in South Africa at one of our famous private nature reserves, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Unfortunately, this poor rhino called Mandgleve faced a traumatic experience with a poacher about two years ago. In this event he got shot, but thankfully the reserve was there to help treat his wound. He is still alive to this day and is doing very well, thanks to the vets and the nature reserve that helped him, because he could not help himself. I hope one day people can all see how the animals of our planet are suffering.

Paolo Fajer (age 18)

Mexico City, Mexico

I took this photograph in 2020 at the Inbursa aquarium. My dad is a photographer and he always takes me to these kinds of places to take pictures. Most of the time they are nature photos; be it landscapes or animals. This has always helped me to connect more with a reality that has been here longer than us; it is a completely different world that we rarely value. I think about how these beings are on the margin of absolutely everything that is human and are a gift of nature. While I am alive, breathing, aware of what I am seeing, this creature is also existing in the same frequency and energy, dedicating itself to existing. Although I have no way of communicating with him or relating to him in a human way, I feel a very real connection, a love that is not human-it is natural.

The love of coexisting in this same universe, the love of appreciating its beauty and feeling the energies that surround us, it is a love story that no matter how much I am living it, it is not mine; it belongs to everyone because we all coexist and live on this planet. From a being that is not aware of its own existence to that energy that we do not understand but feel—some call it god. I do not know what to call it. I feel this every time I see the way our world works, the very organic way of simply existing and being beautiful. This is my love story with nature, with this photo and with what I don't know, but I feel love and intrigue for. My message to the world is simple: Why disturb what is calm? Why damage what is part of us? Why destroy what is perfect and why not just try to understand it? We must learn to live this love story with nature.

Ava Pecora (age 15)

Ohio, U.S.

This painting is the embodiment of being one with the natural environment. It is supposed to illustrate that nature is beautiful in every form—from the plants and atmosphere to humans and magical creatures. The green is meant to symbolize the liveliness and tranquility of forest life. Green has many different meanings, such as calmness, safety, growth, harmony, and most importantly, the environment. The figure has a deep emotional connection with the woods and is completely immersed in the environment. The area around them is abundant with forest plants and creatures. This makes for a certainly magical universe.

Meagen Krige (age 16)

Caledon, South Africa

My artwork is inspired by the vulnerability of animals. All over the world animals are being affected by climate change, poaching, loss of habitat, and destruction of our wonderful ecosystems. Most of these destructive forces happen because of the species called mankind. This photo was taken in South Africa at one of our famous private nature reserves, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Unfortunately, this poor rhino called Mandgleve faced a traumatic experience with a poacher about two years ago. In this event he got shot, but thankfully the reserve was there to help treat his wound. He is still alive to this day and is doing very well, thanks to the vets and the nature reserve that helped him, because he could not help himself. I hope one day people can all see how the animals of our planet are suffering.

Student Gallery

Using the Student Gallery in the Classroom