Gilded Garbage

How would we treat trash if we understood its impact? If it were gold, perhaps?

While walking around Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay campus, I noticed several pieces of litter scattered around. I collected the pieces I discovered while walking a straight line to the sea. Next, I ran them through the printing press after "gilding" the pieces, carefully arranging the pieces on a plexiglass plate.

At a later date, I want to explore this concept further: Why litter? What does trash say about us? After all, only people with the luxury of excess throw anything away. What psychology entitles us to leave a mark in nature this way?

View original pieces of garbage in this interactive map.