Washed Up is an environmental installation and photography project that transforms the international debris washing up on Mexico’s Caribbean coast into disquieting works.
Mexican artist Alejandro Durán does not remove or add anything, but merely rearranges the trash he finds on site.
Durán has identified plastic waste from fifty-three nations and territories on six continents that have washed ashore along the coast of Sian Ka’an, Mexico’s largest federally protected reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Durán at times distributes objects the way the waves would. At other times, the plastic mimics algae, roots, rivers, or fruit, reflecting the infiltration of plastics into the natural environment.
Alejandro Durán website, here.
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I just had a second look through the images and it starts to get quite shocking when you start realising how much waste might be out there. This is just a very very small amount.
I’m with you there. Just a tiny bit of what’s choking the environment, you’re right. Thanks for the comment.
A bit of throwback to Tony Crag’s work of the 1980s, but an important issue and of visual interest nevertheless.
Yes I can see that, now that I’ve explored Tony Crag. Thanks for that comment, because I was not familiar with his work.
OMG
That is good. I live in Mexico, and rubbish IS a major issue. Cultural. People walk in the street, drinking out of a plastic bottle. When they’re finished, the empty bottle becomes “garbage” and is dumped right there on the street.
As another example, the garbage truck has not passed in our street this week. Not a single day.
Sad, really.
The bottle on the street habit is a bad one, absolutely agree. Some places are starting to ban those bottles. Thank you for the comment.
That is a good a move. I would put a special tax on soft drinks and water brands/manufacturers… 😉
Such important work. Thanks for sharing.
Powerful images and message!
Wonderful art & artist!
Very inventive, and many of the installations are quite beautiful.
A great idea. But a sad reality. Thank you.
Yes, agreed, but at least artists like this are consistently bringing the issue to public attention. He’s getting lots of attention.