Reflection

Billions of pounds of plastic float in swirling convergences that make up around 40 percent of the world’s ocean surfaces. In the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, plastic outnumbers wildlife organisms consumed by fish like zooplankton in a ratio of 6 to 1.

More than 4.8 million metric tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean every year, and many researchers believe that the “real amount could be as high as 12.7 million metric tons.” (Popular Science) As the quantity of plastic in the ocean increases, and kills off ocean creatures and wildlife, the percentage of plastic grows. I believe that if this trend continues (increase in plastic and decrease in ecosystem health), that there will possibly be a point where the content of plastic is almost or as great, or perhaps greater than the amount of wildlife.

My artwork depicts a scene of a coral reef. The left side shows an idealistic vision of a thriving coral reef, with colorful organisms and exotic fish swimming. However, the right side shows the ocean floor wreaked by plastic pollution. I used red plastic bottles and cans and put them together in a bizarre and almost eerie mirror image of the left’s healthy coral. The group of fish swimming on the right side are individually cut plastic bottles.

It represents how plastic has begun to start replacing vital features of the ocean’s ecosystem, and the drastic consequences that plastic pollution in the ocean may bring.