“In 2009 we visited the Moqattam district in Cairo where it is estimated that 65,000 Zabbaleen people live from recycling the city’s waste. Reflecting on this immense garbage mountain constructed by the debris, back in our studio we began amassing the ubiquitous plastic water bottle – a vital commodity for the Zabbaleen community and a disastrous pollutant on our environment. The sculptures that developed from our modelling process over the next two-years began to form ‘Clouds’. The organic formations are assembled from thousands of recycled water bottles, resin coated, polished and enamelled to enhance the crevices and shadows of their former identity.” - Lucy + Jorge Orta

Lucy + Jorge Orta’s series of cloud-like sculptures organically surround the body and give the appearance they are becoming auxiliary elements of the figure.  Formed using discarded plastic water bottles, these ‘extended clouds’ are a reminder of the copious amount of synthetic waste and associate dangers this can and does cause; specifically, the issue arising out of water consumption, commercialisation and exploitation of water around the world. Despite the fundamental need for such warnings, Orta also aims to communicate an essence of hope and the importance of working together – just as the people in Egypt do – to demonstrate how small gestures which can collectively make a huge difference.