Experiments in Installation

World Environment Day occurs on the 5^th of June world-wide since 1974 and it is the United Nations platform to raise awareness and inspire action towards protecting the environment.  Every year World Environment Day is hosted by a Country that has a close connection to its annual theme. The 2018 theme is “Beat Plastic Pollution” and was hosted by India. India is home to 1.3 billion people and has been struggling with waste management and plastic pollution for decades.  In addition to hosting the event, India take’s action this year by announcing they will eliminate all single-use plastics by 2022.

This installation, titled Hidden Consequence, was installed on June 5, 2018 and created with the idea of single-use plastics in mind. Most plastic pollution is happening on a global scale in the waterways of our planet; the installation was installed in sand close to the ocean.  The art uses typography, language, and its content to directly stimulate conversation about everyday use of plastics.

First, the letters were addressed typographically. Given a block letter style, each letter has been treated as if it belongs to a trash alphabet.  Additionally, each letter just over four feet high to ensure it can be seen and read from up to 1,000 feet away.  Next, the main body of the work consists of the word convenience.  The human obsession with convenience has directly stimulated the growth of single-use plastics, which account for most marine debris found in water ways and on shore lines.  Every letter in this artwork is being consumed by single use plastics. Additionally, in cursive, the letters “SEQU” are overlaid on the letters “VENI” to transform the word convenience to consequence upon a closer look.

The making of this artwork was a community effort.  Friends, family, neighbors, and students were asked to donate the single use plastics they consumed to raise awareness.  Over a thousand plastic pieces were collected, cleaned and prepped before being tied, stitched or screwed to the wooden letters. Construction and installation of this artwork was no different. Nearly a dozen people played a role in the assembly of this artwork and team of nine individuals coordinated to get this artwork installed on the beach.

Plastic pollution is a problem that must be dealt with, and its main issues are represented through the artworks methods of construction.  Plastics are stitched into our lifestyles, we are tied to their convenience, and if we don’t act we will be screwed by the consequences.  In speaking with people during the collection, construction and installation of this artwork I realize the community has a general understanding of the problems single-use plastics are causing.  However, without action this problem with persist.  It is my hope, that the process, production, and installation of Hidden Consequence stimulates an action response within the people involved both directly and indirectly with its creation.