When I first began to explore the plastic waste we produce, I was floored when I discovered a large portion of the dental floss sold in the US was made of Teflon. My family had long since banished Teflon pans from our houses when a pet bird died suddenly and the veterinarian asked if it lived in or near our kitchen. Yes, we said, how on earth did you know? And that’s how we learned that Teflon pans that are overheated produce fumes that are nasty enough to kill a small bird. Later I would reject Teflon pans also because they are from a class of chemicals that are extremely environmentally persistent. Nothing short of incineration will destroy them. And yet we manufacture more and more. As I researched what Teflon is good for, I learned it is indeed a wonder chemical. The very thing that makes it environmentally persistent is what makes it an invaluable industrial material prized for its resistance to corrosion, heat, stains, liquids and more. Yet we use it to floss our teeth! Absurd. This series of embroideries explores this absurdity by creating gorgeous, lustrous designs out of humble, utilitarian dental floss. Of course we know it is a king parading in pauper’s clothes and has quite the impact when its identity is revealed! But I adore the statement that this wonder material is better suited for an archival piece of art than a 30-second trip between your teeth. People also love the playful approach that teaches them a fun fact they didn’t know - that even their dental floss is plastic.
- Framed: 27 x 21 in
- Subject Matter: Text-based
- Collections: Floss is Forever