Synthetic Blue

About The Entry

Synthetic Blue is a biomimetic sculptural installation inspired by the fatal ecological misrecognition in which sea turtles mistake floating plastic debris for jellyfish and ingest it, leading to internal blockage and death. The work transforms reclaimed disposable plastic utensils into a translucent jellyfish form through thermal reshaping and resin embedding, creating a delicate, weightless appearance that evokes fragile marine life while simultaneously revealing its artificial origin. Positioned within a shallow resin basin that suggests a reflective water surface, the sculpture integrates material recycling, controlled thermoplastic manipulation, and biomimetic morphology into a cohesive conceptual design object. From a distance, viewers perceive an elegant aquatic organism; upon closer inspection, the identity of disposable plastic becomes apparent, producing a perceptual shift from aesthetic admiration to material awareness. This transition mirrors the ecological confusion that inspired the project and exposes the paradox of artificial beauty and environmental harm, highlighting how synthetic materials have visually infiltrated natural ecosystems and raising awareness about marine pollution, ecological misrecognition, and the long-term toxicity of disposable plastics.