WASHED UP: Alejandro Durán Turns Mexican Ocean Trash Into Powerful Environmental Sculptures

Washed Up, Alejandro Durán, green art, recycled art, mexico artwork, trash can ocean art, environmental art mexico, UNESCO World Heritage site, Sian Ka’an, floating trash mexico

Creating informative and powerful sculptures from a devastating ocean trash site, Alejandro Durán focuses on the issue of plastic pollution in his ongoing project Washed Up. Located in the Mexican UNESCO World Heritage site, Sian Ka’an, Washed Up addresses the huge amount of trash carried from shore to shore before it settles in this stunning ecological reserve and barrier reef. Worked over a series of visits to the area since early 2010, Durán has created site-specific sculptures, distributing...

Washed Up by Alejandro Durán

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Creating informative and powerful sculptures from a devastating ocean trash site, Alejandro Durán focuses on the issue of plastic pollution in his ongoing project Washed Up. Located in the Mexican UNESCO World Heritage site, Sian Ka’an, Washed Up addresses the huge amount of trash carried from shore to shore before it settles in this stunning ecological reserve and barrier reef. Worked over a series of visits to the area since early 2010, Durán has created site-specific sculptures, distributing the objects the way the waves would, but in carefully formed color schemes.

Through the course of the project, documented with this striking photo series, Durán has identified washed up products from as many as 42 countries.

Washed Up by Alejandro Durán

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Through the course of the project, documented with this striking photo series, Durán has identified washed up products from as many as 42 countries.

His work illuminates the "far-reaching impact of our disposable culture" and current environmental concerns regarding vast quantities of waste materials.

Washed Up by Alejandro Durán

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His work illuminates the "far-reaching impact of our disposable culture" and current environmental concerns regarding vast quantities of waste materials.

Reasserting this trash as art, Washed Up suggests we change the way we perceive products.

Washed Up by Alejandro Durán

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Reasserting this trash as art, Washed Up suggests we change the way we perceive products.

Durán collects together waste to make a big statement.

Washed Up by Alejandro Durán

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Durán collects together waste to make a big statement.

Durán strategically places each object he finds in formations reminiscent of how waves leave things on the beach.

Washed Up by Alejandro Durán

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Durán strategically places each object he finds in formations reminiscent of how waves leave things on the beach.

Color schemes can be seen immediately.

Washed Up by Alejandro Durán

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Color schemes can be seen immediately.

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