New Life (2019)

Issues of the environment are currently more pressing than ever before. Our modern world has become so dependent on the convenience of readily available plastic products – one of the biggest offenders being disposable plastic bags. Somewhere between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used each year, and only 1-3% end up getting recycled. On average, a plastic bag is only used for 12 minutes before it’s discarded. New Life is a series of reused plastic bags which have been decorated using various materials and techniques. Each of the four bags can be viewed as individual pieces or together as one. The first bag features floral embroidery, the second displays a textured, geometric design, the third has applied lace and ribbon, and the fourth shows a traditional “thank you” graphic painted with acrylic paint. New Life challenges our attitude towards and treatment of plastic bags. The work also encourages the viewer to question what makes something valuable or fashionable, and how they interact with plastic bags.