Beachcombed sculptures made of ocean plastic - in pictures

For the past five years, Thirza Schaap has been creating delicate sculptures out of plastic debris from beaches on the South African coastline. The artist, who divides her time between Cape Town and Amsterdam, has named the project Plastic Ocean. "The objects are disgusting and ugly in a way, but sometimes they could also look pretty," she says, "because of the time they've been in the ocean, with colours faded by the sun." The series is meant as a stark reminder of the dangers of plastic waste. "It's easy to think that it's not your fault. But if you start to realise that the rubbish could have been yours, you can make a difference by not buying the item in the first place." Continue reading...