Plastic Mode

Graduation Artworks

 

I read an article that said, “We will not be able to produce any fuel within 100 years”. This means that plastics (which are made from fuel) will no longer exist in the future. If this is the case, it brings up some pressing questions… What will happen with the existence of plastics in the future? What will the plastics that are already degrading within the environment look like in the near future? Will the cost of plastics change? 

From these thoughts, I have decided to create my own line of jewelry named, “Plastic Mode”. They are made from plastic garbage, representing the pollution of plastic that overflowing the Earth and it’s oceans. This jewelry symbolizes the question of the permanence of plastics in our current world.

 

With three different plastic materials I have created a series of three types of jewlery. Each of these plastics have negatively impacted the lives of wild sea creatures, who were seriously damaged by this plastic garbage. The first piece I have created is titled, “Shell”. I knitted in more than 20,000 cable ties each to create this piece. These bands of plastic are meant to represent the shell of a sea turtle, one of the most commonly harmed creatures from plastic pollution in the ocean. My second piece I have made is titled, “Wave”. It is made from vinyl chloride, which is used in many restaurants to prevent water from splashing on people. Each of the pieces were layered one by one with clips. The two styles of “Wave” are designed to capture the shapes of waves. The last piece I created is named, “Coral”. It is made from more then 500 plastic bottles which were cut and heated by iron. It symbolizes the shapes of coral in the sea.

 

Through making these 3 patterns, I have realized the excessiveness and cheapness of plastics. This makes me feel a sense of danger regarding our current environmental situation on Earth. I would appreciate if all of you who are reading and seeing these artworks reconsider how much plastic you use a day. Have empathy for the creatures of this planet and realize there is a way you can make a positive impact in your daily lives.