Sign 
Zero Waste
.svg?v=1736707394){kind=icon}
As September arrives, life in the city begins to rejuvenate. On September 14, the Istanbul Biennial, a significant stop on the global art map, will open its doors for the 16th time. This year, the exhibitions will be centered around the theme of the "Seventh Continent."
The text presents a comprehensive overview of the "Seventh Continent," a vast expanse of waste floating in the oceans, specifically referencing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It addresses the environmental issues caused by human activity and highlights the relationship between art and ecology through contemporary art practices that utilize anthropology and archaeology.
Here are some key points:
Definition: The "Seventh Continent" refers to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area in the Pacific Ocean teeming with plastic waste.
Exploration: The idea of this "continent" has been around for about 2,500 years, linked to the myth of Atlantis, which was traditionally sought in the Atlantic Ocean. However, it was discovered in the Pacific Ocean, between California and Hawaii.
Discovery: Charles Moore, an oceanographer, stumbled upon this patch in 1997. He described the vast area filled with debris that seemed untouched by humans, contrasting with its reality of being a landfill.
Size and Visibility: The area is estimated to cover between 1.6 million square kilometers and is not visible from space, making it elusive.
Composition: The patch consists primarily of plastic and microplastics, forming a "soup" of debris. The materials vary in size, with microplastics defined as particles smaller than 5 mm.
Impact on Marine Life: The patch affects marine life, with many animals, including turtles and dolphins, consuming plastics as part of their diets.
Human Responsibility: The article emphasizes that this "continent" is a creation of human consumption habits, with an average of 200 plastic pieces attributed to each person.
Future of the Seventh Continent: Without significant changes in consumption and waste management, the size and impact of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch are likely to increase, leading to dire consequences for marine ecosystems and, ultimately, human health.
This piece serves as both a warning about environmental degradation and a call to action for better waste management practices and ecological awareness.