My Elaeis series comments on the use of palm oil and the effects of palm oil production on the rainforest ecosystem. Palm oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the fruit of the Elaeis oil palm tree; growing only within 20 degrees north or south of the equator. These regions house tropical rainforests, in Africa, Asia, Central and South America. These forests are being cleared for palm oil plantations, as demand grows world-wide.

Palm oil is found in approximately 50% of products on supermarket shelves, including food and non-food items. Through processing and refining palm oil and palm kernel oil, a wide range of products are made with different melting points, consistencies and characteristics. The ingredients derived from palm oil are used as cooking oils, biofuel; found in processed foods, and personal care products like soap and cosmetics. It is also used in the animal feed, pharmaceutical, and industrial industries.

Iceberg
layered plexiglass
15 3/4’’ x 11 3/4’’ x 2 1/8’’
2018