“I Can Use That” is a material- and process-driven exploration of plastic waste collected from my home environment. Through painting, heating, and melting, these discarded materials are transformed into a textile, then sewn, stuffed, pleated, or woven into sculptural forms. Machine stitching and traditional handwork hold these elements together.
The resulting works echo ocean colours—from clear and vibrant to dark and polluted—suggesting the insidious poisoning of our waters. Woven into the process is a personal narrative rooted in childhood: swimming with family, summers in clear water, and my grandfather’s resourcefulness—saving scraps, rope, and broken sandals to make something whole again.
Hand stitching serves as both construction and care—a visible thread of resilience and the legacy of my grandmother’s constant needlework. In a world overwhelmed by waste, “I Can Use That” becomes both a declaration and an invitation: to look again, to reconsider value, and to imagine restoration