Thirty Fragments, 2024
Found plastic float fragments, stainless steel | dimensions variable (195cm widest)
When fishing industry floats are discarded or lost at sea, they become subjected to various environmental factors that contribute to their breakdown over time. The process goes on forever: floats become fragments, fragments become micro-plastics, micro-plastics become nano-plastics.
Due to the interplay of ocean currents, wind patterns, and local geography, coastal locations siphon specific marine debris, concentrating them in distinct areas along the shoreline. A boulder section at one end of our local beach catches this material almost exclusively.
The piece was made for Blue: Art for the Oceans, a charitable auction featuring works from 35 artists, including Marina Abramović, Peter Doig, Ai Weiwei, and Edmund de Waal, held at Christie’s London, with proceeds benefitting Blue Marine Foundation’s projects dedicated to protecting our oceans.
Blue Marine’s mission is to combat overfishing and protect marine biodiversity, supporting the UN’s goal of safeguarding 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.