Killer Plastic

Killer Plastic is a bold, sculptural statement piece created in response to the devastating impact of microplastics on coral reef ecosystems. This work confronts the silent, creeping damage caused by everyday consumer waste — transformed here into a striking embroidered protest.

Crafted from discarded plastic bottle tops — salvaged from laundry softener and carbonated drinks bottles sourced from neighbours’ recycling bins — the piece embodies a direct conversation between domestic waste and ecological consequence. These once-overlooked fragments are repurposed as sculptural forms, embedded within epoxy resin tinted with shimmering mica powders, mimicking the allure of the ocean while concealing the threat that lurks beneath.

Nestled within each resin form is intricate, hand-stitched embroidery, visually echoing the fragility of coral. These embroidered elements — vibrant, organic, and highly textured — sit in jarring contrast to the smooth, artificial surfaces that entrap them. The result is both beautiful and unsettling: a reef-like form poisoned by the very plastics that are choking our oceans.

Killer Plastic serves as both a warning and a call to action. It challenges viewers to question their own consumption, to recognise the enduring life of plastic waste, and to consider the silent toll it takes on the world beneath the waves.