Polar Plastic

“In an image saturated era, there is a lack of visual bombardment about the mass production of and effects of plastics in the far reached of the arctic. To show the spread and dangers to the biodiversity, wildlife, and environments due to the high levels of pollution that are finding their way into the ecosystem by creating image repetition, saturation, and visual bombardment on a life-size scale. By scanning plastic bags and ‘trash’ materials and printing copies, cutting, and placing into a visual form to produce a 3D physical collage, building up the imagery of wildlife in the arctic with a large polar bear.”

“I’m exploring the spread of plastic pollutants and the dangers to arctic life as climate change continues to melt ice and release layers of microplastics into the environment. The rapid mass production of plastics and the effects it has on the positive feedback systems of climate change that is a danger to all wildlife but specifically to a geographic location that is historically though of as untouched by pollution, a prison Arctic environment. The arctic melt is contributing to a loss of biodiversity and environment for wildlife to inhabit and the high levels of pollution are finding their way into the ecosystem and all levels of the food chain. The threats of an ice-free Arctic Ocean would allow human exploitation of lands, waters, and wildlife that used to be protected by a layer of sea ice year-round. No direct human activity was necessary in this region to accumulate the plastic pollution since many rivers lead to the Arctic Ocean, local pollution is enough to migrate the waste through the Atlantic waters to the Arctic and lead to plastics being trapped in ice formations.”