This mural of a human inside the body of a turtle was created in Mexico by Paola Delfín.
Delfín painted this mural to bring awareness to turtle conservation, specifically the importance of adult female turtles. She uses the mural to show that the life of a turtle is equally as important as the life of a human.
Teaching Tips
Positives
There is a list of ways to help with turtle conservation below the artwork.
The art is engaging and impactful.
Additional Prerequisites
The human subject is not clothed but covered appropriately.
Differentiation
This would be a great piece to show in an art class to discuss the artist's x-ray technique. After the discussion, students could create their own x-ray artwork.
Cross-curricular connections can be made to biology classes, where students can discuss the impact of humans on coastal ecosystems, like Cozumel, Mexico. Students could also research the role of sea turtles in their ecosystem, and why it's important to protect them.
This artwork explains the human-related impact on marine resource degradation, this has caused a devastating effect on their survival. Students can learn site-specific conservation techniques from this piece. This is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
8.ESS3.4 Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth’s systems.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
HS.LS2.6 Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
Arts
Visual Arts: Standard 7 - Perceive and analyze artistic work.
VA.7.RE1.3 1. Distinguish between different types of art (i.e., 2D and 3D) and determine messages communicated.
Visual Arts: Standard 8 - Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
VA.8.RE2.K 1. Interpret art by identifying subject matter and describing relevant details.
VA.8.RE2.6 1. Interpret art by distinguishing between relevant and non-relevant contextual information and analyzing subject matter, composition, formal art elements, and use of media to identify ideas and mood conveyed.
Visual Arts: Standard 9 - Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
VA.9.RE3.2 1. Use art vocabulary to express preferences about an artwork.
