5m2 - Syed Murshed

Central St Martins
 
Ash, Beech and Card
 
5m² is a sculptural response to the ecological impact of fast food, using the familiar form of a hamburger to expose the hidden environmental cost behind its production. Crafted from hardwood, the work merges the visual language of a fast-food burger with the organic grain of timber, drawing a direct connection between beef consumption and deforestation. Presented in custom-designed packaging, the piece uses the act of unboxing as part of the experience, turning a recognizable commercial format into a moment of confrontation and reflection. The reveal inside the box introduces a stark statistic, encouraging the viewer to reconsider the everyday systems and materials that sit behind convenience. By combining humour, familiarity and unease, 5m² critiques the fast-food industry’s relationship to environmental destruction while inviting viewers to engage with a serious issue through an object that is both playful and unsettling.