The Earth is Tired was created with the intent of shedding light on the devastating impacts of global warming. My inspiration stemmed from witnessing the detrimental effects of climate change on the Euphrates River in Syria and I was very drawn on ideas relating to preserving the world we lived in.

 

The Euphrates river is the longest river in Southwest Asia. In recent years, the alarming depletion of the Euphrates has accelerated and this was even foretold in Revelations 16:12. This verse was taken from a passage about the seven bowls of God’s wrath. 

 

I just couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps after all these years, with the growing rate of urbanisation and wastage, maybe underneath all the fat drops of endless rain, the sweltering heat and melting icebergs, maybe the earth really is tired.

 

This prompted me to delve into research about the unique fauna inhabiting its waters, exclusive to this ecosystem. The images of these creatures, particularly the endangered greater spotted eagle and steppe eagle, served as poignant reminders of the ecological crisis unfolding before us.

 

For this project, I used materials from defunct Singapore Airlines aircrafts. Each element of my attire was meticulously crafted from these materials, imbuing them with symbolic significance. The flare of the pants, dyed brown to mirror the feathers of the endangered birds, was fashioned from repurposed SIA blankets, while the pants and bodice were constructed from seat cushions, dyed to complement my chosen colour palette. Even the sleeves, made from tablecloth and napkins, were tie-dyed to evoke the essence of the Euphrates river.

 

Through "The Earth is Tired," I wanted to raise awareness and ignite conversations about the urgent need for environmental stewardship, reminding us that it is our collective responsibility to protect our planet before it's too late.