Beauty on the beach: Artist transforms washed up plastic
Digital Reporter
Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 9:00 PM -
For many artists inspiration often lies in the nuances of everyday life.
The purpose behind Alejandro Durán's latest project is to draw attention to the effects that pollution is having on the beaches of his native Mexico.
The presence of plastics in the world's oceans in particular has become a major problem of late. A recent study suggests 8 million metric tonnes of plastic are entering the Earth's oceans each year.
Duran's latest project, Washed Up, addresses the issue of plastic and other forms of trash being carried by waves onto the shores of Sian Ka'an, Mexico's largest federally-protected reserve. The area is home to a vast array of tropical plants and animals. It is also the site of the world's second largest coastal barrier reef.
"Over the course of this project, I have identified plastic waste from fifty nations on six continents that have washed ashore along the coast of Sian Ka'an," Durán writes on his official website. "I have used this international debris to create color-based, site-specific sculptures."
Born in Mexico City, Durán lives and works mainly out of a studio in Brooklyn, New York. His work is focused on relationships between man and the Earth, juxtaposing natural and overdeveloped environments in his pieces and installations.
Check out a few selections from Durán's Washed Up collection below:
