Self Footprint

This piece reflects my ecological footprint as a self-portrait, represented in a way that displays my trash and allows participants to walk on it, showing their “footprint.” As they walk on it, the invisible string triggers the display of water on top to move, which is filled with natural materials to represent the ocean. Participants will experience a sense of calm as they walk on it and see their footprint reflected in my trash, but they will also be left wondering if this is how we want to be remembered when we walk on Earth. This shows the contrast between natural and artificial processes, as no matter what we do, they react to the environment. The items that cause my ecological footprint to be higher are placed on the triggers to show that some trash has less impact than others and, consequently, affects the overall effect on the earth.