I first came to Sado Island in 2016 as a marine biologist studying bluefin tunas in partnership with local fishermen and the Japanese government. Wild experiences on the fishing boats off the Washizaki coast and quiet days spent beachcombing north of Ryotsu left me with a deep appreciation for the island’s hardworking people and natural beauty. Sado Island is not immune to the international issue of ocean plastic pollution, and many of my early artworks were inspired by plastic objects collected off its beaches.  My intention with “Renketsu-sei/Plastic Sea” is to highlight how plastic can entangle ocean animals and to encourage a systemic shift in humanity’s reliance on single-use plastics. I believe islands like Sado are microcosms that can become sources of innovation to solve broader societal challenges.