A Plastic Bottle Becomes an Ichthyosaur

Hendrik Hackl, the renowned Mannheim artist, is presenting his latest work, the PET-osaurus, at the Munich Show - an impressive link between the prehistoric past and the challenges of the modern throwaway society. The PET-osaurus, a five meter long and 1.5 meter wide ichthyosaur, consists of 666 recycled PET bottles.
 
Hackl addresses the issue of plastic pollution and transforms it into a powerful message through art. The sculpture is more than just an aesthetic object - it embodies the closed
closed cycle of nature that is disrupted by human intervention. From the plankton organisms of the Jurassic period, which became crude oil over millions of years, to today's PET bottles, which are made from this fossil raw material - Hackl draws a direct line from the Jurassic to the Anthropocene. The PET-osaurus thus symbolizes the “missing link” between prehistoric times and the present.
 
Hackl, who has joined the “Precious Plastic” community, focuses on recycling and sustainability in this project. He collected the PET bottles he used himself on the coasts of southwest France. After cleaning and shredding them, they were processed into filament and brought to life in a 3D printer - as a moving, PET-bottle-blue skeleton sculpture that floats in the air and vibrates slightly with the movements of visitors. This installation is the central component of the exhibition “The Closed Circle”, which is intended not only to amaze visitors, but also to make them think. It illustrates how closely the past is linked to the present and how important it is to find sustainable solutions for the future.
 
Hackl invites the public to become active themselves, to collect and recycle plastic waste in order to give something back to the planet. With this exhibition, the Munich Show offers a unique opportunity to experience art, science and environmental protection in an impressive way.

The title picture: The artist Hendrik Hackl with his partner - fossil expert and 3D designer Zsombor Hobaj / Photo: dH fotografiert, Elles Magermans