SHINOD AKKARAPARAMBIL

Cut To Size

In this 15-foot installation, I have woven together two fundamental concepts: the value of hard work and the pressing issues of sustainability. Through the interplay of materials, this piece speaks to both human effort and environmental responsibility.

While conceptualizing this work, I walked through the streets of Chennai, searching for discarded plastic bottles. What I witnessed was both alarming and thought-provoking—people casually tossing bottles onto roadsides, into drains, and along the beaches, with little regard for their environmental impact. These discarded remnants of convenience, though seemingly insignificant in isolation, collectively contribute to an overwhelming crisis. Witnessing this firsthand deepened my understanding of how plastic waste has become an inescapable part of our urban landscape, choking natural spaces and threatening life’s very existence.

The plastic bottles incorporated into the installation symbolize this toxic waste burden—remnants of unchecked consumption that accumulate in landfills, rivers, and oceans, disrupting ecosystems and jeopardizing the future of our planet. Each bottle in this piece carries a story of neglect, a reminder of how our choices shape the environment we inhabit.

In contrast, the chisel represents human labor, resilience, and our power to transform the world around us. It is a tool wielded by hands that carve, build, and mold both our physical surroundings and our collective consciousness. The juxtaposition of these elements—discarded plastic and the craftsmanship of the chisel—highlights the duality of human impact: destruction and creation, negligence and responsibility.

This installation is not just a commentary on pollution; it is a call to action. It challenges us to rethink our relationship with waste, to embrace sustainable practices, and to recognize that with conscious effort, we can reshape our environment for the better. Recycling and repurposing are not merely solutions to pollution but pathways to a more harmonious coexistence with nature. Through this work, I hope to ignite conversations about our collective responsibility and the power of individual choices in shaping a more sustainable future.