LIFE IN A BAG

Cultural Heritage – Plastic Waste
Purchasing reflects our way of life, and by removing the status meaning of this term, it could be said that it defines our way of thinking. Well-off individuals will always opt for items of proven quality, while those with shallower pockets will buy what they can afford, but the motto for all is to get the best quality for the least money.
The other side of purchasing, so to speak the other side of the coin, is packaging, as it directly reflects our education and culture. If packaging is crucial in decision-making when choosing what to buy, rather than standardized quality parameters of goods, then primarily it is a matter of ignorance, and when that packaging ends up everywhere around us, it is undoubtedly also a matter of lack of culture.
It is incompatible for someone who is educated and well-mannered to pollute the environment with waste because they should surely know that by polluting the environment, they harm themselves and that waste should be disposed of only in designated places. Plastic waste especially poses a danger because its degradation releases pyrolenes, highly carcinogenic substances, and such waste is most prevalent in open spaces of primitive and underdeveloped communities. Polluting waters and destroying aquatic life, therefore, can be crucial for the survival of humanity.
My idea was to draw attention to this significant problem by composing the figure of Jovan Memedović, a great advocate for preserving a healthy natural environment, from floating plastic waste, and at the same time, to indicate possible ways to fight against this “modern” plague. By depicting his figure in this way, I wanted to show that proper waste management is actually the art of living and that preserving the environment is a sure path to a long and healthy life. If it costs nothing to dispose of garbage where it should be, then even those with shallower pockets can buy themselves a lot of time for a healthy life at a low cost.
On the other hand, for both producers and sellers, to put this relationship simply, it would be beneficial if consumers had a long and healthy life, in order to preserve the continuum of the life chain, because naturally, we are all consumers.
The solution to this equation, however complicated it may seem at first glance, is, I would say, simple – producers and sellers should first turn to biodegradable packaging, and consumers to culture.

Life in a Bag
It now seems to me that with each new project, I burden myself more by stepping out of my comfort zone. Perhaps this is the power of creativity. This time, it was the decoration of 16,000 bags that Lidl withdrew from use and sale. I love it when large companies recognize and support my work.
My idea to create a large bag to cover a healthy tree to indicate that plastic is killing us was immediately adopted, and the job, which lasted almost a month, was completed at the end of October.
In order for the new installation to see the light on the occasion of World Climate Change Day, it took more than ten people and perhaps the greatest support of machinery for working at heights to date.
Uncontrolled plastic disposal has become the biggest polluter of the natural environment, and it is therefore very important to control and manage waste. The bag ended up not being recycled, and this is an example of how we can reduce pollution.
The focus of my work is people, their problems, life, the world around us, and without a healthy environment, there are no healthy thoughts or joys of living.
Only together can we have a healthy tomorrow, so we must all bravely step out of the bag and think beyond it!