The Drop, an installation dedicated to water, the most precious substance on Earth

DROP Water - the most precious substance on Earth. All living things need water to survive. It is the centerpiece of our lives. Benjamin Franklin had famously quoted "When the well's dry, we know the worth of water." The first signs of life on our planet appeared in water. First, these were the simplest microorganisms, they developed with time and evolved into complex living beings. These primary organisms were the ancestors of our race. The famous French explorer and conservationist Jacques Yves Cousteau had said “We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.” It is water which enables our planet to inhabit life and differentiates it from other barren planets. Our bodies contain about 70% water and it is a vital component needed by the human body to replenish. We are sustained with water, because without it, our body would not function and we would not be able to think, move or exist. There’s no other natural liquid on Earth that would be conducive to the development of life. In essence, there is no replacement for water. The mention of water conjures up images of gurgling rivers, gushing waterfalls and beautiful waves gently lapping the seashore and we tend to assume that water on earth is inexhaustible. However, although 70% of the earth is covered with water, only 2.5% of it is fresh water available for our needs. Out of this 2.5%, only 1% is available to us for consumption. The human race, in spite of knowing these facts, is undermining the importance of water and polluting it in the name of lifestyle. Eventually, the natural deposit of water that we have on our planet shall get exhausted due to pollution. As soon as we lose all water that’s potable, life will become extinct!! Water pollution has become one of the most critical environmental issues. It has left a huge impact on the marine life on earth creating an unbalanced ecosystem. The causes and the impact of this pollution are mounting daily and the statistics are alarming. Tons of plastic debris (which by definition are waste that can vary in size from large containers, fishing nets to microscopic plastic pellets or even particles) is discarded every year, everywhere, polluting lands, rivers, coasts, beaches, and oceans. Rapid increase in the production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them. A vast amount of plastic is added into circulation each year, and less than a fifth of it gets recycled. The studies reveal that around 12.7 million tons of plastic waste are washed into the ocean every year. Industrialization, agricultural activities, mining waste, radioactive waste and oil spills are among other causes that contaminate water. This is why in the near future, water can become more crucial and expensive than natural oil, petrol, or other liquids that are invaluable for humanity at present. The very indication that this abundantly available resource could become a commodity is extremely unfortunate and disheartening. Governments across the globe can try their best to spread awareness and implement rules and policies to curb this disaster, but eventually it is in the hands of the citizens to be conscious and conscientious and put an end to the wastage and contamination of water. The installation aims to create awareness amongst global citizens about the mounting challenges and to instigate them to act immediately to curb the environmental damage. Why a drop? A drop or droplet; the smallest form of water visible to the naked eye, which is so pure and minuscule. It is considered to be a representation of water and to give an understanding that the tiniest drop of water is also of prime significance. The drop is topped up with red bottles depicting the plastic squander that has been created by us “HUMANS”...plaguing the planet. It is time to wake up and be aware that water is bleeding because of the abundant waste we have generated. This cuboid installation is made of glass layered on top of one another creating the form of a drop within. A droplet would be visible when viewing this installation from any side. The proposed installation of 3m x 3m is recommended for placement near the beach to convey a clear message to the viewers. It can be sized to any scale and can even be represented in a form as small as a keychain to be given away as merchandise. The keychain could be two minuscules of these drops, one filled with red plastic depicting how we have harmed nature and the other filled with a drop depicting the pure form of water gifted to us by Mother Nature. Grandfather saw it in a river Father saw it in a well, We saw it in a Tap, Our children see it in a Bottle, Where will our grandchildren see it! In a Capsule? If we still neglect, It will only be seen in Tears