Windows of Consumption

Participants, asked to collect their trash over 2-3 months, are stunned by the sheer volume of waste accumulated. From this heap of refuse, a tapersty of plastic remnants are arranged within the glass windows of their homes. The play of light throught the varying colours and transparencies of plastics creates an experience remniscent of sunlight filtered through the sacral stain-glass windows illuminating a house of worship.

The window is more than a common gateaway between inside and outside, but rather maintains a balance between protection and vulnerability- sound piercing tranquillity, light illuminating dark. By using trash to obstruct the view, the artist challenges the public to look beyond, and understand the “garbage” they produce from excess consumption is blocking their ability to live a more self-aware, spiritual existence. The triumph of what we want, over what we need, has led to the human tragety of over indulgance. An indivudual’s tastes and choices are embodied in their window display, allowing the public to view that identity, to formulate understandings of those lifestyles. Our hope is that Windows of Consumption will lead to people adopt more self-accountable consumer behaviours and find creative solutions to a growing problem of our modern day society.