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Linus Tupas
Professor Collins
ENGL 1301
17 November 2016
In Mankinds Hands
The artwork titled Preservation is an image posted on deviantart.com by user
Shortcircuit123. The image depicts two human left hands; on the left side of the image is one
hand that is set against a cloudy blue sky and is covered in what appears to be grass, shrubs and
other foliage with a layer of stone underneath. There is a group of small, dark specks that seem to
be a flock of birds flying above the arm. The hands index and middle fingers seem to be burned
and charred as they extend toward the right side of the image where another hand is. This other
hand and its arm are completely scorched and blackened. Sitting atop it is a factory from which a
billowing cloud of black smoke pours out of smokestacks, engulfing the entire right half of the
picture. The hand appears to be making a beckoning motion, and on its index finger is a layer of
glistening black oil which drips down. The title of the piece as well as the artists deviantart.com
account name are displayed between the hands. About two centuries ago, the Industrial
Revolution took place in the United States and Western Europe, and industry has expanded to
occupy much of the land area on Earth as a result. The growing number of factories and plants
that have appeared since then have been expelling waste products and toxins, which are formed
during the manufacturing process, into the surrounding air, land, and water. The United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported in its 2000 Toxics Release inventory that over
2.95 million metric tons (6.5 billion pounds) of toxic chemicals from about 2,000 industrial
facilities are annually released into the environment (Industry). The creator of this image is

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trying to convey to people involved in industry that industrialization is consuming the surface of
the planet at natures expense. The colors, symbolic imagery, and broad target audience of the
artwork Preservation portray that the most significant human element in the destruction of
Earths natural landscapes is industrialization.
The facet most immediately perceptible in the image is the stark contrast in color across
it. The background of the left side of the screen is a pleasant, cloudy blue sky that fades
rightward into a cloud of thick, black smoke. The light blue of the sky represents the life and
beauty of nature and evokes a cordial feeling of warmth and tranquility. On the other hand,
literally, the black of the smoke symbolizes the death and fear created by the destruction of
nature. Smoke, often associated with cancer, can be seen in this artwork as a comparison between
the spread of industrialization and a growing tumor. Imagine a passenger in a plane flying over
land during the day. He may look down upon a city and see that from above, it is ugly and out of
place in conjunction with the adjacent natural landscape. From a birds eye view, it would be
shockingly clear how much of a contrast there is between the smoggy gray and black of the
industrial land in comparison to the vibrant, healthy-looking greens of the surrounding nature.
Preservation effectively demonstrates the same type of visual metaphor.
Past the color, the next most noticeable aspect of the picture is the imagery and
symbolism of its individual parts. The two hands reaching toward each other is the most obvious;
they personify two entities, nature and industry in this case, attempting to merge or join together.
The foliage and greenery on the left hand make it clear that it represents nature while the factory
spewing smoke on the right hand symbolizes industry. The fact that both of them are left hands
solidifies the notion that they are two distinct entities. The blackened hand on the right appears to
make a beckoning motion, implying that industry is pulling nature toward its demise, and the left

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hands burned fingers show the occurrence of that process. The shining, black oil dripping from
the industrial hand represents the greed that humans have for resources, power, and money. That
hand also appears to have more of a feminine shape as opposed to the more masculine left hand,
furthering the images metaphor for lust. The artists choice to use hands is intriguing in its own
right; he could have simply depicted two distinct ecosystems merging together, but the use of
hands illustrates that humans are truly responsible for natures extirpation. The most significant
metaphor is the artworks reminiscence of Michelangelos renowned piece, The Creation of
Adam, which is a depiction of God extending his hand to give form to Adam, the first man who
ever lived according to the Bible. The left hand in Preservation is in virtually the exact same
position as Adams hand and also represents the whole of mankind, much like Adam did when he
was depicted as the only human in existence in Michelangelos piece. Only instead of being
created, humanity is being destroyed as it lets itself be consumed by the dominion of industry.
The art is intended to speak to a large target audience. The artist intended to direct the
message of this piece towards people who have involvement in the industrial world, but such an
audience encompasses virtually everyone in a developed or developing society. Modern western
civilization is dominated by consumerism which industry is essential to. The vast majority of
peoples possessions in these societies was made in a factory, whether it be their clothes,
electronics, or furniture. Even most of their food is likely to have been processed at a plant at
some point. Of the many people who might see this image, the message applies to nearly all of
them.
This piece of art has depicted through these hands that humans are held accountable for
the state of nature as they are the ones with the greatest ability to manipulate it. It get its message
across effectively because of its recognizable symbolism and visually attractive, realistic images.

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Its broad audience gives the work a widespread, meaningful impact that encourages virtually
everyone to participate in the preservation of nature.

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Works Cited
Industry. Pollution Issues, Advameg, Inc., www.pollutionissues.com/ho-li/industry.html.
Shortcircuit123. Preservation. DeviantArt, DeviantArt, 29 May 2015,
www.deviantart.com/art/preservation-536188510.
Simoni, Michelangelo Di Lodovico Buonarroti. The Creation of Adam. 1508. Sistine Chapel,
Vatican City.