Floating MAiZE, 2023

by Jean Shin

Known for her inventive works that transform cast-off materials into elegant expressions of place and identity, Jean Shin’s art and practice is ingrained with the idea of sustainability. Shin has repurposed thousands of green plastic Mountain Dew bottles into an elaborate installation that resembles an artificial landscape. This large-scale artwork will float above audiences in the Allen Lambert Galleria, engaging them to consider the relationship between plastic waste, dietary choices, and environmental stewardship.

“Using cast-off or donated materials, I create large-scale sculptures that draw attention to everyday objects, often underscoring their circulation and cumulative effect upon our live environment. In the case of Floating MAiZE, the repurposed single-use plastic Mountain Dew bottles, once filled with soda containing corn syrup, illustrate the issues of corporate extraction and overconsumption, and the harmful effects of highly processed foods on our health. The sheer mass of plastic in Floating MAiZE encourages visitors to consider the failure of the beverage industry to take responsibility for the scale of plastic waste it generates, less than 9% of which is recycled, and this waste’s detrimental effects on the environment and our collective well-being.”

Learn more at jeanshin.com