In this film you see me, Maria Koijck, lay in the middle of an incredible amount of waste from just one surgery, my surgery.
In August 2019 I got diagnosed with breast cancer. They had to remove my entire left breast. After a successful recovery, I recently got a deep lap surgery where they gave me an entire new breast of my own bodily materials.
I am so grateful for their craftsmanship and the chance to feel beautiful again, but during this proces I discovered that 60% of the surgery materials used for this operation is disposable.
For example: the stainless steal scissors that are flown in from Japan, are used for one cut before they end up in the bin.
I asked the doctors to collect all of the surgery materials used for my operation, to get a clear idea of how much it really was. I was in shock when I saw 6 bags full of plastic waste.
I am incredibly grateful for my recovery but I am also in disbelief when I see the waste that’s been used for just one operation, my operation.
As an artist I’ve spend years on shedding light on the current situation considering plastic waste. It raises a question:
Humans always seek to ‘get better’, but what is the cost to our environment?
Watch the video with the sound very loud
https://youtu.be/w28M7wjIr6E
