Kalliopi Monoyios

When we think of plastic, we tend to think of bags and straws. But the reality is that our lives are steeped in plastic - it covers our walls, wraps our buildings, corrects our vision, and fills our cavities. What began as a bee in my bonnet over single-use plastic has turned into an exploration of the complexity of our relationship with plastic. As a result, I resist making this work about ugliness and disgust. The convenience of plastic and its incredible versatility make it a seductive material. Its longevity and durability make it something we should perhaps use for our most precious heirlooms. No one can deny the environmental toll plastic is taking, but perhaps this is a reflection of us entering plastic's adolescence. We have only, after all, been manufacturing it at scale for 70 years.