Madrid
Ada Kobusiewicz, Javier Viana, Alberto Lomas
Atacama Fashion
This artwork brings urgent attention to the reckless exploitation of water resources by the fast fashion industry. Every year, more than 39,000 tonnes of discarded clothing are dumped in Chile’s Atacama Desert, turning the world’s driest landscape into a sprawling waste site. These mountains of unsold garments, manufactured using water-intensive processes, underscore the severe environmental consequences of fast fashion.
A UN report highlights that textile production accounts for 20% of global water waste and 10% of annual carbon emissions – more than all international flights and shipping combined. Producing a single cotton T-shirt requires 2,700 litres of water, enough to meet one person’s drinking needs for two and a half years. With 2 billion T-shirts produced annually, the industry’s strain on water resources is unsustainable.
The installation features three water containers, styled to mimic a Rubik’s Cube. This colourful design serves as a powerful metaphor for the enormous water consumption and pollution tied to garment dyeing, challenging viewers to reconsider the environmental toll of their fashion choices.
What colour will you choose to pollute yourself with this season?
With kind support by Land Steiermark Abteilung 9 Kultur and Farbenpartner René Schuch GmbH.
Additional information on the Atacama Fashion project, 2024 (PDF in German)
Video documentation: Atacama Fashion, 2024 (YouTube)
