Nearly a century ago, an extraordinary material emerged, set to enhance our lives. Plastic, hailed as a marvel of innovation, offered the promise of a more convenient and attractive future.

Imagine a world where endless possibilities unfold: shatter-resistant containers, durable toys, and packaging that keeps our food fresh. Plastic unlocked a realm of boundless potential, where intricate designs could be easily molded. We were captivated by its versatility and convenience, enticed by the promise of having it all.

But by the mid-20th century, we started to recognize its true nature, a far more insidious one. The effects on our health and the environment became undeniable. In just a few decades, our oceans became choked with discarded plastic, landfills overflowed with non-biodegradable waste, and landscapes were scarred by the very substance we had once celebrated.

Reverie is a video piece that embodies the deceptive allure of plastic. A plastic sheet dances in the wind, its movements reflecting our misguided romance with this material. Hypnotic and fluid, it captures the enchantment we once experienced: the allure of plastic’s empty promises.

Reverie reflects on our shared journey: how we embraced the shine of plastic, only to realize too late the lasting harm it would cause. As the sheet flutters, we are prompted to reconsider the narrative we have crafted around this material.

The short film below, Reverie, questions whether it is too late to rewrite this narrative, to discover beauty in undoing the damage, and to revive our connection with a world that relies not on plastic’s alluring charm but on our capacity to exist in harmony with the earth that sustains us.

• Gonzaga Gómez-Cortázar Romero