“Thank You, Have a Nice Day!” is a 12’4”x 7’6” x 12’4” walk-in installation made entirely of found and sewn plastic bags, forming a greenhouse-like enclosure that is both vibrant and suffocating. Created as a reflection on my relationship with consumerism, disposability, and material awareness, it is deeply shaped by my first-generation upbringing, experiences in rural Central America, and growing ecological consciousness.

Each bag was collected over five months throughout New Brunswick, NJ—only accepting ones that had already been used. What began as a plan for a sprawling, tunnel-like installation evolved into a more intimate space due to gallery limitations—an adaptation that deepened the emotional impact while softening the piece’s initial aggressiveness, instead creating a welcoming yet unsettling atmosphere. Inside the plastic enclosure, the temperature subtly rises, echoing the heat and pressure of living with the consequences of consumption.

This project is not simply about recycling—it is about attention, transformation, and labor. It demands that something ubiquitous, ignored, and disposable becomes impossible to overlook.