Albatross

This piece is a realistic depiction of a Laysan Albatross using embroidery and sequins hand cut from domestic waste plastic. A recent area of interest is the health impact of environmental micro-plastics and idea that plastic never actually disappears (is just gets broken up smaller and smaller). One unfortunate outcome of the plastic waste floating in the Pacific Ocean is that Laysan Albatross mistake it for food. They unintentionally starve their chicks whose bodies are left decaying around piles of plastic. Whilst pondering the problem of plastic I began collecting my own plastic waste and incorporating it into my embroidery work. This albatross, rendered in plastic, ponders the idea of ingested plastic and how single-use plastics might be employed more thoughtfully.