Drag performer Nymphia Wind led a beach cleanup on the coast of New Taipei to collect marine waste for an upcoming Taiwan Pride outfit.
The initiative merges environmental activism with LGBTQ+ visibility, using reclaimed pollution to draw attention to the critically endangered Formosan pink dolphin.
Wind partnered with fellow artist Hannah Monina, a group of volunteers, and the environmental organization HiiN Studio for the event. Together, the group removed more than 600 kg [1] of marine waste from the coastline. The effort focused on gathering plastics and other debris that threaten local marine ecosystems.
Rather than disposing of all the collected materials, the team plans to repurpose the plastic. Wind and Monina will transform the waste into a garment to be worn during the Taiwan Pride parade. The design of the outfit is intended to spotlight the plight of the Formosan pink dolphin, a species facing severe population declines.
By integrating waste collection into the creative process for a high-profile event, the organizers aim to promote environmental protection. The project serves as a visual reminder of the impact of plastic pollution on Taiwan's coastal waters, and the wildlife that inhabits them.
“The group removed more than 600 kg of marine waste from the coastline.”
This project demonstrates a growing trend of 'artivism,' where public figures use creative platforms to address ecological crises. By linking the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community with the survival of an endangered species, the organizers are expanding the scope of the Pride movement to include intersectional environmental concerns.
