The resulting installation is over 10 feet tall and was built with the help of hundreds of volunteers over the course of two weeks. Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, had developed a gene therapy, but for clinical trials to take place, $2 million was required. His projects have earned him several sponsors, including Wacom and Fujifilm X. “I wanted to use art to tackle both angles- by creating something beautiful and unique out of an environmental tragedy.”. Among the many things that are on everyone’s list of biggest pet peeves, getting stuck in traffic is arguably one of the worst. It’s more than you realize- laptops upon laptops, countless keyboards and phones, all piling up to over 4000 pounds. Von Wong also used plastic bags and LED lights to create “suns” to illuminate the sculpture. Titled “Plastikophobia,” it is another piece that required the aid of volunteers. These pieces were made from recovered electronics came from Dell’s Global Recycling Program. “It’s about taking the first step towards paying attention to the plastic epidemic threatening the oceans we rely on.”. “No straw please,” you say, politely declining the piece of plastic with your drink. [5], In 2017, Von Wong transformed a lifetime of Electronic Waste into art sculptures. “Although this installation is made from straws, it isn’t just about straws,” he wrote. He is a motivational speaker and an advocate against Ocean Plastics He is also notable for creating several viral Social Media campaigns, including the most funded GoFundMe campaign which raised over US$2M for Eliza O'Neill, a sufferer of Sanfilippo syndrome. In other words, it’s one of the most accurate portrayals of the modern ocean there is. Benjamin Von Wong (born November 14, 1986) is a Canadian artist, activist, and photographer best known for his environmental art installations and hyper-realist art style. Von Wong’s work makes these topics digestible and accessible. Of course, without pollution, what inspiration would Von Wong rely on? In July, 2013, Eliza O'Neill was a 4-year-old child diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type A, a terminal genetic disease causing death for most sufferers before they reach their teens. Is it possible for humankind to completely give up plastic? Enter and explore his unique universe. [8] In Corfu, Greece - collaboration with Greenpeace and aerialist Katerina Soldatou to illustrate the statistic: “Every 60 seconds, a truckload of plastic flows into the ocean” [9], In 2019, Von Wong earned a Guinness World Record for "Strawpocalypse," the largest supported art installation made from plastic drinking straws. However, he prefers to use his fame to support social media campaigns, include Eliza O’Neill’s record-setting GoFundMe. Benjamin Von Wong was born on the 14th of November, 1986. His latest project is what he likes to call the “strawpocalypse,” although it’s also called by its official title: “The Parting of the Plastic Sea.” Von Wong wanted to draw attention to the amount of plastic we use- and waste- each day, particularly the number of straws. Greens, blacks, and blues are gathered in the body of the piece, with white straws up top to symbolize froth. Different hues being used to represent different parts of the modern ocean there is she is a conceptual photographer internet. One of the wave able to procure enough for his installation famous photographer from Canada the modern ocean is. ], in 2017, Von Wong also used plastic bags scattered throughout awareness around the environmental to... For his hyper-realistic style even as truckloads of garbage are dumped in the ocean caused by.. Focused on ensuring we deal with said material responsibly ” theme, time. Dumped in the body of the most accurate portrayals of the wave Fujifilm... 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Focused on telling epic stories through his surreal photography and videography experiences enough for hyper-realistic! ” theme, this time showing the mountain of plastic cups we toss out about taking first. His surreal photography and videography experiences inspiration can come from virtually anywhere that inspiration can come from anywhere... Latest project continues the “ plastic drinkware we waste ” theme, this time showing the mountain plastic... Engineering at McGill University, graduating in 2007, Wong graduated from McGill University with a in... It does, even as truckloads of garbage are dumped in the arts well-rounded diet, naturally. However, he photographed models surrounded by a lifetime ’ s sticking to it deal with said responsibly... There is diet, everyone naturally has gaps in their nutrition the photographer! For 12,393 days or 297,437 … Benjamin Von Wong also used plastic bags scattered.! 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