Growing up, Singapore-born artist Tan Zi Xi believed that creative processes are inherently messy which played an important role in shaping her mind while she was studying illustration at Central Saint Martins in London. Having always been environmentally conscious, she created a series of illustrations called An Effort Most Futile through which she tried to share her concerns about the deteriorating state of the ecosystem. Nine years later, in the same vein, her installation Plastic Ocean at Sassoon Dock seeks to comment on the realities of the toxic levels of sea pollution and is composed of over 20,000 pieces of refuse that are motionlessly suspended.
“Through my art, I hope to increase awareness about the dire situation our oceans are in and also implore people to evaluate their personal plastic waste generation and disposal habits. Plastics are non-biodegradable and will remain on Earth for a very long time. Plastic Ocean will appeal to the morality of the public and shed light on how the culture of convenience is unsustainable.” — Tan Zi Xi
