Bloddy Plastic

"Blue Bag Mangroves" – Lina Bormuth (2024)
Oil on stretched plastic trash bag, 120 x 50 cm

"Blue Bag Mangroves" is a powerful exploration of environmental pollution and the fragility of nature. Lina Bormuth uses the everyday symbol of the blue trash bag – representing disposal and the desire to forget the issues we no longer want to deal with – to reflect on the neglect of our seas and the loss of biodiversity. The deep blue, somewhat moldy light that breaks through the mangrove leaves creates an almost surreal depth, as though it were a universe sinking deeper into the blue. This metaphorical portrayal reminds us how easily we accept pollution and the destruction of our natural resources. Bormuth challenges the viewer to reflect on the importance of preserving our environment and to truly appreciate nature as an irreplaceable and vulnerable system.

Langsam weniger

"Tote Bag" – A Work by Lina Bormuth
Sculptural Painting in critical Harmony with Industry – "Tote Bag" (2024)
170 x 120 cm, Oil on stretched industrial plastic sack

In her work "Tote Bag," Lina Bormuth takes a bold step beyond traditional painting techniques. She combines painting with the relief structure of an industrial trash bag to create a powerful, three-dimensional representation of coral reefs. The plastic bag, filled with cola cans – a personal touch as the artist enjoys drinking them while painting – is stretched over a stretcher frame, making the frame invisible and giving the artwork the appearance of a suspended sculpture.

With dimensions of 170 x 120 cm, Bormuth captures the overwhelming, living sensation of a coral reef, directly addressing the dramatic effects of plastic waste and industrial refuse. The trash bag, serving as the medium for the coral paintings, draws attention to the destruction of the ocean, emphasizing the problematic intersection of industrial waste and nature.

In "Tote Bag," the artist uses the surface structure of the material to portray the fleshy, organic texture of the corals in an extraordinary way. The relief effect of the painting enhances the impression that these corals are more than just organic structures – they almost seem like a living entity, just like the trash heap at a landfill. This innovative approach is part of Bormuth's "Bloody Plastic" series within her "Deep Dive Emotions" collection, inviting viewers to engage deeply with the relationship between humanity, plastic, and the environment.