Sian Ka’an is one of the most beautiful heritage sites in the world – it’s home to the second largest coastal barrier reef and abounds with flora and fauna. In other words, it’s paradise. And it just so happens that this slice of heaven is also a repository for the world’s trash, which is carried via current from many parts of the globe. Grisly, isn’t it? Artist Alejandro Durán thought so too and created Washed Up in response – an installation series that uses international debris to create colour-based, site-specific sculptures.

Durán sadly points out that even undeveloped land isn’t safe from the far-reaching impact of our disposable culture. Having identified plastic waste from 50 nations across 6 continents that’ve washed up along Sian Ka’an’s coast, Durán aims to raise awareness and change our relationship to consumption – one heart-rending sculpture at a time.