Duke Riley: DEATH TO THE LIVING, Long Live Trash

The Brooklyn Museum presents Duke Riley’s critique of the plastics industry, “DEATH TO THE LIVING, Long Live Trash,” on view through April 23, 2023. Through a range of works, including videos and plastic-based art pieces, Riley critiques single-use plastics and their impact on waterways while simultaneously drawing attention to the work being done by community members to combat the issue. Riley draws bold connections between past and present consumer-driven markets, comparing the whaling industry’s environmental impact to that of the modern-day plastics industry. The Brooklyn-based artist’s contemporary take on scrimshaws with repurposed plastic containers presents traditional imagery combined with portraits of plastics business executives. Riley also selected original scrimshaws from the museum’s collection to be displayed alongside, and the Brooklyn Museum is working on collaborating with the New York Aquarium and other local organizations that promote green consumer habits and clean waterways.