Reflection

Reflection

As a mantra that has been engraved upon the mind of my malleable young self, “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle” has followed my life throughout most of my academic years. However, though this phrase may be prominent in most societies, functional objects are trashed each day, therefore the above saying is clearly not understood. This is where my project comes in. As an endeavor to jump start genuine and popular recycling, I created my two pieces. My first piece, the recycling bin made from recyclables, acts as a beacon of excellence and an opportunity to continue to cycle. Though it may look like just some trash to some, in my eyes it exemplifies a step forward into a world where plastic is cherished and never wasted. My triptych, as mentioned in my artist statement, uses the tool of recycling to shine a new light on the whole idea of “what is waste”. From afar, the triptych, with its three vivid colors, may seem like an abstract piece that would lay resident in a house. However, given a closer look, the reality of the piece becomes apparent; it is plastic. Not masked, not changed, it is purely plastic. This instance, where there lies a grey area between trash and treasure, is where plastic strives. With its innate beauty, it has the ability to give awe to people as well as act the world’s most effective utility. I hope that my examples of recycling have the power to jumpstart my audience into a mindset where they view plastic not as an infinite, mundane resource to be trashed within the world’s ocean but as a celebrated luxury. With this mindset, the mantra “reuse, reduce, recycle” will go from fiction to fact, and I’ll know I’ve done my part in the process.