Artists Research: Eduardo Leal

Researching artists working with trees as a subject and plastic bags, this artist came up and I looked into his series “Plastic Trees”. The series focuses on the spread of plastic bags on the Bolivian Altiplano and the effect the plastic bags reek on the landscape. The aim of the photographs was to bring to attention the problem that is now a worldwide concern, especially in developing countries where the waste management isn’t up to speed with the production and consumerism. This work is a visual symbol for a problem that not only can be seen now but lasts over hundreds of years.

The photo series addresses the bigger issues at hand: the consumption of plastic bags world wide. The “ever-useful” object has become a quick use and bin throughout households to the point its the main source of pollution. These consequences are visually heartbreaking and captured by the artists camera.

In the photo “Plastic Tree #20” the plastic residue that got caught in the wind and impacted the landscape, caught in the tree. This isn’t a one of incident but a usual occurrence as plastic bag residue spreads also geographically. The details in the photo capture the environment surrounding the small tree and bag, reflecting the bright day. The dystopian atmosphere of the photo was interesting and something that also influenced me when using blain plastic bags to exploring them against a natural environment. The dirt on the bag inspired me to explore the usage of soil and more organic found materials in the surrounding environment on the plastic and document the effect it had on it.