Handcut, Styrofoam packaging and amplifier, 2011

Handcut black Styrofoam, 2011

 

“The philosopher Barry Allen argues that our trash, everything from a polystyrene container to a popcan tab, is composed of products that are highly complex in design. Curiously enough, the degree of investment that goes into the production of these goods, does not ensure lasting value or usability, only material endurance…”[1]

Timothy Morton addresses the material permanence of Styrofoam containers by labeling them as hyperobjects. “Along global warming, “hyperobjects” will be our lasting legacy. Materials made from humble Styrofoam to terrifying plutonium will far outlast current social and biological forms. We are talking about hundreds and thousands of years.”[2]

 

[1] Boetzkes, Amanda. “Waste and the Sublime Landscape.” RACAR XXXV Number 1, 2010, (22-31).

[2] Morton, Timothy. The Ecological Thought. Harvard University press, 2010, (130).