What role does abstraction play in fabric’s commentary on consumer waste?

Abstraction in fabric art serves as a powerful tool to critique consumer waste by distilling complex environmental issues into visceral, emotional experiences. Artists manipulate textures, colors, and fragmented forms to evoke the chaos and excess of discarded materials, transforming mundane fabrics into poignant symbols of overconsumption. By stripping away literal representation, abstraction invites viewers to confront waste’s emotional weight rather than its physical specifics. This approach amplifies the disconnect between consumer habits and their ecological consequences, urging reflection through ambiguity. Fabric’s tactile nature further deepens the impact, making waste’s abstract toll feel uncomfortably tangible. Ultimately, abstraction in textile art reframes waste as an aesthetic and ethical crisis, challenging audiences to rethink their role in the cycle of disposal.