“This is MY water”

I've always been struck by our strange relationship with water. Every day, we depend on it—using it to live, to grow, to connect. And yet, we try to control it, lock it away, as if we could own something that should be free and shared by all. This contradiction is what inspired This is MY Water.

In this piece, I chose a locked water bottle with visible cracks to capture that idea. The lock represents our impulse to possess and contain, while the cracks show what happens when we try to control something that is naturally fluid and open. They remind us that when we interfere too much, damage is inevitable.

I was motivated by the everyday reality of water scarcity and conflicts that are becoming more common around the world. In a time when we see water being fought over and misused, I felt it was important to pause and rethink how we value this essential resource. The sculpture is my way of questioning the notion that we can own water—something that is truly a part of all of us.

This work is more than just a visual statement; it's a call for reflection. I hope it makes people stop for a moment and consider their own relationship with water and the environment. The piece asks us to look at our habits and the hidden costs of trying to control what is, by its very nature, free and fragile.

With This is MY Water, I want to spark a simple conversation about care, responsibility, and the way we treat the things that sustain us. Water gives life, yet it can break under pressure. I believe it’s time we see water for what it really is—something vital, shared, and deserving of our respect.

DOCUMENTATION - Roemello Mcnish Semper