# Water Pollution-Exposing Photography Benjamin Von Wong Makes a Statement with Mermaids By Mishal Omar | Published 2017-06-16 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/von-wong References: [huffingtonpost](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/mermaid-plastic-photos-von-wong_us_5942e686e4b01eab7a2c67f1) & [blog.vonwong](http://blog.vonwong.com/mermaidplastic/) Benjamin Von Wong is an artist known for the work he does in or around water, and he recently created a mermaid-themed photo series that makes a poignant statement about the current state of the world's oceans. The series was created in a staged room, where Von Wong set up thousands of plastic bottles in various patterns. He then dressed his models up to look like mermaids, and placed them among the beautiful but simultaneously distressing patterns that the plastic waste forms. The resulting photographs reveal the frightening nature of the human practice of polluting oceans, and work to further the conversation around conservation. This beautiful but stark imagery explores human action that leads to environmental pollution, and human inaction in trying to mitigate this issue. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.1/10 - Popularity: 97% | Activity: 78% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Environmental Awareness:** Creating artwork that exposes environmental issues through photography can raise public awareness and encourage actions to address pollution. - **Plastic Waste Reduction:** The use of staged photography to highlight the impact of plastic waste on the ocean can inspire innovation in recycling techniques and sustainable packaging solutions. - **Art as Activism:** Merging art and activism can drive social change by engaging and challenging audiences to reflect on their own contributions to environmental pollution. ### Who This Affects Most - **Photography:** Incorporating environmental messaging into photography can create new market opportunities for photographers specializing in eco-conscious campaigns. - **Environmental Conservation:** The powerful visual impact of photography can be harnessed by environmental conservation organizations to advocate for stricter regulations and promote sustainable practices. - **Plastic Recycling:** The striking visual representation of plastic waste can spur innovation in the plastic recycling industry, driving the development of more efficient and sustainable recycling processes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Interactive Marine Ecosystem Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marine-ecosystem-sculptures.md) - [Sustainable Movie-Inspired Bottles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mananalu-1.md) - [Ceramic Waste Carafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sungai-carafe.md) - [Minimalist Gradient Glass Desks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-desk.md) - [Ocean Purity Petitons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-dirty-protest.md) - [Pollution-Removing Murals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/this-campaign-sucks.md) - [Plastic-Exploring Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/everlasting-plastics.md) - [Eye-Catching Reusable Beverage Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/reusable-beverage-cup.md) - [Sea Level-Measuring Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/totemy-series.md)