Back to Basics

The original image is part of the "Washed Up" project by Alejandro Duran, and I chose it for this project because it is both peaceful and disturbing. While the lines and colors are bold and beautiful, the image depicts a natural scene that is corrupted by manmade junk and pollution on the beach. When you first look at it, it almost looks serene, but I think that is what makes it so powerful. The trash and recycling that litter our beaches are so normal now that they blend into the landscape, and we choose not to see the destruction that we, as humans, cause to beaches, oceans, and wildlife. In my digital art remix, then, I chose to cover all the trash with recycled material depicting the colors of sand. While the "sand" stands in sharp contrast to the blue of the ocean, unlike the original image, it makes a statement that we need to be more active in our efforts to clean up our beaches. Only by recognizing the problem and working to solve it will we make progress. I also added a small yellow heart to represent love of nature and cleanliness as well as two seagulls to symbolize the return of wildlife to a place that is free of trash and other materials that might cause them harm. "Back to Basics" removes the trash and replaces it with the natural beauty that belongs on the beach.


Original Image Citation: Alejandro Duran. "Washed up: Alejandro Duran's site-specific found plastic and trash installations." April 18, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/04/washed-up-alejandro-duran/ 

Remixed by Allison Russell