Lin Wan Shi 2A/06

Man and Nature as divided and as undivided

This is a picture of some creepers growing and extending over the roof of a man-made shelter. The roof seems like it is a boundary that separates the creepers and the shelter. This shows that Man and Nature are two different things, and both must not get into each other’s way.

Relating to the urban society today, fences are build to prevent overgrown leaves from getting into our way, grasses are cleared to build walkways; all these are actions which separate Nature from Man.

On the other hand, there is a sense of unity between the creepers and the roof of the shelter. The creepers are nicely spread out and extends slightly over the roof and. They can be seen as a sort of decorative ornament to the shelter, thus beautifying it.

In the urban society today, plants are also often used for aesthetic uses. Plants are used to beautify the environment such as planting trees along the roads and housing potted plants indoors. Nature’s godlike beauty is being merged with the man-made environment, and this combination can create incredible effects.



Man depending on Nature resources

This is a picture of 3 tourists sitting on the bench and resting under the shade provided by the tree. This shows that Man makes use of Nature’s resources to benefit him. In this picture, it is like commensalistic relationship, whereby Man benefits and no harm is done to Nature and Nature remains untouched by Man.

Also, judging from the picture, the tree looks like a ‘house’ for the tourists. With its branches spreading out wide, it is a protective shelter for Man. Adding on, comparing the difference in size between the giantic tree and the tourists, it seems like Man is so minor and trivial when compared to Nature.

Contrary to the commensalistic relationship as depicted in the picture in the urban society today, Man is overwhelmed by greed and wants more than the limit that Nature can provide before it gets destroyed. Man tries to exploit Nature’s resources to manufacture goods for his own use, such as cutting down trees to manufacture paper and other goods. However by practicing deforestation, it can increase the rate of soil erosion and landslides, this can in turn bring harm to Man. Therefore, like what is depicted in the picture, Nature is powerful and Man will never ever succeed in taking control over Nature.



Nature using man made resources

This is a picture of a tortoise resting on a man-made cluster of stones. This shows that the tortoise is left with no other choice but to make use of the man-made resources as all the natural rocks and boulders are all depleted.

There is a distinct contrast between the tortoise and the clustered stones. That is, one is natural and the other is man-made. However, it may seem typical to most of us as it is such a common sight to us that we have somewhat combined Man and Nature as one.

Relating back to the urban society today, Nature is often forced to compromise with Man’s doings. Man is always trying to restore back Nature after it has been already depleted or destroyed. In actual fact, what is done cannot be undone. Man-made resources can never be as real as the natural ones.

All the 3 pictures above show how Man and Nature are interrelated, and how they affect each other

Lin Wan Shi
2A/06