Unforgettable photos make a positive impact
Imagine standing beneath a three-story high, giant metal tap, spewing thousands of plastic bottles and containers with no end in sight.
This isn’t a plot for the next environmental thriller – it's the harsh reality of planet Earth. During the pandemic, single-use plastic consumption shot up to 250% and over 80% of plastics ever produced go straight into landfill. Even worse, millions of tons of unrecyclable and contaminated plastic waste are exported to poorer countries every year. So what steps do we take in taming what feels like an overwhelming and uncontrollable beast? The solution is simple: reducing our plastic consumption. Canadian artist, activist, photographer, and self-proclaimed “garbage collector” Ben Von Wong is taking action against plastic production by inviting the world to #TurnOffThePlasticTap.
It's a real thing
That garbage-spewing metal tap we mentioned earlier? It’s a real thing. In collaboration with the Canadian Embassy in France and with the help of his family and hundreds of volunteers, Ben built a fully-recyclable, traveling installation to spread the word about the consequences of plastic production. The “tap” was crafted using over 200 pounds of ventilation ducts scavenged from a building that was about to be demolished. Leaking from the tap are a truckload of plastics held together by rope made from plastic bottles. Prior to construction, each plastic piece had to be sorted, poked, and threaded together so that the installation could be broken down and photographed in multiple locations.
Even the process of photographing the giant tap was conducted in a green fashion. “Since the installation was so tall, the cheapest and most efficient way to light up our faucet was using mirrors provided by our volunteers. To help diffuse the light and add a sense of magic on location, we used a simple bee smoker loaded with organic hay (more environmentally friendly than running a generator).”
The mission
The giant plastic tap is only the beginning. With the goal of spreading awareness, Ben has created ready-to-use digital files of the tap for those who feel inspired to create their own remix of this incredible installation. He’s also sourced over $10,000 in prizes for participants. “My mission is to help make positive impact unforgettable.”
To learn more about the #TurnOffThePlasticTap installation and initiative, join our behind-the-scenes discussion with Ben.
