Dirty T
The act of smoking and abandoning cigarette butts and boxes without proper disposal can be seen as a reflection of societal attitudes towards convenience and immediate gratification, often at the expense of long-term environmental responsibility. This act symbolizes a disregard for the consequences of personal actions on the environment, contributing to littering and pollution. Behavior like that is explored as a form of social commentary on consumer culture and individual responsibility.
who gets to flick?
who gets to pick?
I chose to document and/or reenact such actions to provoke thought and critique. By highlighting this behavior through performance and visual representation, the project challenges viewers to reflect on their own habits and the broader societal norms that perpetuate environmental degradation.
Dirty T, 20x15 inches. Discarded cigarette butts on canvas with glue
300
Flick or Pick? is a performance video rooted in the philosophy that small, everyday actions contribute to larger environmental and social issues. Drawing attention to a form of litter that is ubiquitous yet often ignored, cigarette butts are the most abundant form of plastic waste in the world, with approximately 4.5 trillion butts polluting our environment annually. They were found everywhere, in the corridors, parking lots, sidewalks, any place humans can and cannot get to. I walked through Park Avenue alone and over the course of just a few hours, I picked up 300 cigarette butts in total, and yes of course, not including the ones I overlooked because they were either unaccessible or too mixed up with their surrounding to pick up.
My performance highlights the careless flick of cigarette butts and contrasts it with the laborious task of picking them up. This deliberate and painstaking process serves as a metaphor for the ongoing struggle to address the environmental impact of our actions.
Tucson's numerous smoke shops, coupled with a noticeable absence of cigarette receptacles or trash bins, significantly exacerbate the city's smoking litter problem. These shops serve as key points where cigarettes are purchased, directly contributing to the availability and subsequent disposal of cigarette butts in public spaces. The lack of designated receptacles near these establishments often leads smokers to discard their butts on sidewalks, streets, and other public areas, perpetuating a cycle of littering. Hence, this performance also addresses the disproportionate burden faced by low-income communities, which often have higher smoking rates due to targeted marketing by the tobacco industry. These communities suffer from systemic inequities, including poorer waste management services and greater exposure to environmental toxins. By highlighting this issue, the work advocates for environmental justice and equitable waste management solutions.