Many students in Da Nang held an exhibition featuring disposable plastic products in the form of aquatic animals on Saturday and Sunday, hoping to spread the message of the negative influence of plastic on the global marine ecosystem.

The outdoor ‘Plastic Monster’ display envisioned the plight and fright of marine creatures facing a looming attack from a three-headed octopus monster – the event’s highlight.

In the imagination of 25 high school and college students who organized the event, the octopus was transformed from an ordinary one due to plastic contamination and was attempting to spread its black tentacles to other animals, forcing them to take shelter.

A three-headed octopus monster is seen at the 'Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Children look at a plastic spider crab at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The products displayed here, on the premises of the Da Nang General Sciences Library, were inspired by real-life sufferings and deaths that happened to sea animals around the world.

One design was based on a young sperm whale that washed ashore on the southeast coast of Spain and died reportedly from being unable to digest more than 60 pounds of plastic trash, fishing nets and garbage bags earlier this year.

Materials used for the creation included thrown-away bottles, raincoats and nylon bags that the students collected at different places like coffee shops and restaurants.

The students spent nearly two months on the event’s preparations, asking for financial and legal support from the Vietnam Green Generation – a national network for environmentally conscious Vietnamese.

An object describing a 145-kilogram sea lion waddled in a nylon bag on the Canadian coast is seen at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A girl expresses her surprise when her mother says that a sperm whale found in Spain died from plastic, while standing by a displayed object at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

An object describing a stork in Spain covered in a nylon bag is seen at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The exhibition’s purpose was loud and clear: humans must take action immediately.

“We wish to sound the alarm of the invasion of plastic monsters, and arouse a sense of urgency and sentiments among the public about a white pollution in most places in the world, including Da Nang,” said Nguyen Thuy Khanh Nhu, a member from the organizing group, implying plastic pollution.

An object describing a turtle that has a figure-eight shape due to being caught in a rubber band for multiple years is seen at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Plastic sea animals are seen at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A plastic turtle is seen at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A fish bottle is seen at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A plastic jelly fish (foreground) is seen at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Boys and a woman look at plastic fish at the ‘Plastic Monster’ exhibition in Da Nang, Vietnam, June 30 and July 1, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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