Artists Paint An Ailing Planet In Vivid Color

They’re eyes, but they’re taking in a universe of shifting shapes and colors. The piercing structures of the irises only accentuate how the rest of the eyes are swimming with color. In the middle of each pupil is an astronaut, which throws the scale of the image into question. On one level, it’s all fun and inviting. On another, it’s disorienting. The astronauts could be exploring a colorful new dimension. They may also be in danger.

For the artist — Ricardo Gutiérrez — the eyes ​“represent ongoing changes in the planet’s natural cycles due to human impact,” an accompanying note states. ​“The blue side of an eye depicts melting ice caps” due to global warming, while the ​“red and yellow hues … signify droughts.” The golden circles ​“are inspired by ancient civilizations and contemporary scientific theories,” drawing a parallel between contemporary ideas of geoengineering to cool the planet and Sumerian myths in which gold was used to ​“repair their atmosphere.” Finally, ​“the astronauts symbolize a potential future where, if environmental degradation continues, humanity may need to seek refuge beyond Earth.”

The piece is part of ​“Vulnerable Planet,” a joint show of works by Gutiérrez and Anastasia Mastilovic currently in its final week as the featured art at Blue Orchid Pan Asian Cuisine and Bar on Court Street. The two artists ​“explore the intricate relationship between humanity and the environment,” seeking to ​“foster a profound sense of connection and responsibility toward our fragile planet.”

Gutiérrez and Mastilovic have in common a move that’s a little unorthodox in art about climate change, which is to work with a vivacious color palette usually associated with much lighter topics. This disorientation works in their favor, as the colors serve the purpose of creating ​“a visual narrative of hope and urgency” about ​“conservation, resilience, and the interconnectedness of all life forms” with the goal to ​“not only highlight the surrounding beauty but also ignite discussions and actions that contribute to preserving our natural heritage.” Some proceeds from sales of the art will go to the World Wildlife Fund.

Mastilovic’s paintings have, if anything, an even more intense focus on the slow-rolling catastrophe of climate change, which makes her use of color that much more pointed. Dissolving Paradise ​“vividly depicts the tragic fate of coral reefs, which are ​“rapidly dying due to rising ocean temperatures, acidification, and pollution. The interplay of color and paint drips, reminiscent of a glitch or system breakdown … emphasizes that the world is vanishing before our eyes.” The statement notes that half the world’s coral reefs ​“have died in the past three decades” because of environmental stressors.

Likewise, The Last Breath ​“portrays a fragile world. Microscopic particles in the sky reflect the degradation of the atmosphere caused by airplane emissions.” At the center, ​“small particles and circles represent melting icebergs, while the Gulf Stream” — the alteration of which by global warming can dramatically affect weather patterns in the U.S. and Europe — ​“is depicted at the bottom of the painting.”

“The artwork symbolizes the ongoing melting of glaciers and icebergs,” the statement continues, noting that ​“Greenland and Antarctica have been losing over 400 billion tons of ice each year.”

For this viewer, Gutiérrez’s and Mastilovic’s use of color had the intended effect; it forced the thinking onto a different track about climate change. Too often, still, the message can seem devoid of hope, which is to say devoid of action, as if there’s nothing to do but wait until the miserable end. The paintings in ​“Vulnerable Planet’ feel more like talking to people in their respective fields who know a lot about what can be done, who see a path forward. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible. And in the end, do we have any other choice?

“Vulnerable Planet” runs at Blue Orchid Pan Asian Cuisine and Bar, 130 Court St., through the end of the month.