The Tides of Plastics

This work is an investigation into the sonic materiality of marine debris and the practices of environmental actors. Along China's coastlines, including in Dalian, Qingdao, Xiamen, and Caofeidian, Guo Yingchao and her fellow actors recorded soundscapes while collecting waste generated by humans that had been washed ashore by the tides, primarily plastic bottles, discarded fishing nets, and foam. In a controlled acoustic environment, these silent human remnants were transformed through Foley techniques into clear auditory samples. These sounds, evoked by the material properties of the debris, will ultimately be juxtaposed with the original coastal soundscapes (e.g., waves, sea breezes, and bird sounds) from the collection sites. The work aims to create an emotionally resonant piece that encourages actions to reduce marine plastic pollution by physically juxtaposing artificial plastic noise with the ocean's natural soundscapes.