The painting “The One Who Sees” places a white goat at its center, its gaze locking directly with the viewer. The goat’s wise, steady expression and slightly smiling lips exude a quiet confidence, inviting introspection. This central figure encapsulates Madeleine Fitzpatrick’s ecofeminist practice, which seeks to grant agency to nature and nonhuman allies, challenging the anthropocentric narratives that dominate much of human history. By foregrounding the goat—a creature often associated with resilience and adaptability— Fitzpatrick invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world, urging a shift from domination to coexistence.
Fitzpatrick’s commitment to ecofeminism extends beyond her art, deeply rooted in her personal life as well. Her long walks in the forest foraging for mushrooms or tending to her vegetable garden reflect a harmonious connection with the earth, embodying the philosophies she explores in her work. The goat, a visitor from her garden, becomes a symbolic emissary of this interconnectedness, bridging the gap between the natural and human worlds.
Set against the backdrop of tumultuous blue ocean waves, the painting reveals an intricate interplay between the seen and the unseen. The surface teems with pink water lilies, their delicate presence contrasting with the intensity of the water's movement. Hidden within the depths are shadowy figures, fragmented body parts, and ghostly animal silhouettes, blending seamlessly into the landscape. These elements, partially obscured and ethereal, evoke the subconscious—the realm of dreams, forgotten memories, and untold stories.
Even the goat, steadfast at the center, becomes partially submerged, its legs disappearing into the water as though absorbed by the enigmatic depths below. This visual ambiguity blurs the line between past and future, reality and dream, inviting viewers to contemplate the fluid boundaries of time and existence. The painting resonates as a speculative vision of a world where ecofeminist principles take precedence—a world where human and nonhuman lives are intertwined, and the dream of ecological harmony is not just a possibility but a central narrative.
Through “The One Who Sees,” Fitzpatrick demonstrates her mastery of worldbuilding, crafting a space where nature, memory, and imagination converge. The painting serves as both a call to action and a meditation, urging us to envision a future that prioritizes empathy, coexistence, and respect for all forms of life.
—Naz Cuguoglu