Through her project Plastic Ocean, Thirza Schaap explores our evolving relationship with plastic and its damaging impact und our planet. Inspired by classical still life paintings, she replaces traditional symbols of wealth and permanence - silverware, china, and glassware - with disposable cutlery and single-use plastic bottles. “Simply documenting the washed-up plastic on the beach didn’t do justice to the beauty of its colors and textures,” she explains. “By isolating the objects in my studio, I strip them of their original context, turning them into stand-alone elements that form the foundation of my compositions.”