plastic ice cream traces the contrasting timelines of fleeting pleasure and material decay

The 400-Year Ice Cream frames a reflection on material longevity

Created by Joll, The 400-Year Ice Cream examines the contrasting lifespans of everyday consumption and the materials that support it. Taking the familiar form of an ice cream, an object intended to disappear within minutes, the work transforms it into a PVC replica that may remain in the environment for centuries. By replacing a perishable food item with a non-biodegradable material, the project considers the long-term environmental consequences embedded within ordinary acts of consumption and disposal.

The installation combines a PVC food replica with a white oak frame and an exposed iron threaded rod secured by wing nuts. Rather than concealing its construction, the work presents each material as part of its conceptual framework. White oak, although naturally resistant to decay, can eventually be broken down by fungi and other organisms. Iron gradually transforms through corrosion, forming oxides over time. PVC follows a different trajectory: derived from crude oil, it resists biological decomposition and, instead of disappearing, slowly weathers and fragments while remaining in the environment.

front view of The 400-Year Ice Cream | all images ©Joll

Joll connects consumption, materiality, and ecological impact 

Rather than establishing a linear timeline, the project places biological decay, corrosion, and plastic persistence alongside one another, allowing the different material behaviors to unfold in parallel. The familiar image of an ice cream becomes a reminder that while the pleasure of consumption is temporary, the plastic associated with everyday products can outlast generations. As plastic fragments continue to accumulate in rivers, oceans, soil, ecosystems, and living organisms, The 400-Year Ice Cream by Japanese artist Joll frames correct disposal not simply as an individual action, but as one that contributes to shaping future environmental conditions.

installation view showing the isolation of the familiar PVC food replica within an open white oak frame

oblique view revealing the depth of the white oak frame and the way the food replica projects outward 

side view of the work’s three-dimensional projection, cast shadow, and exposed iron fixing system

front detail of the three-scoop PVC food replica, highlighting its artificial colors and textures

low-angle detail showing the PVC cone, the exposed iron threaded rod, and the white oak frame

side detail highlighting the contrast between the soft-looking ice cream and the rigid iron support

lower rear view showing the iron threaded rod and wing nuts that secure the PVC food replica

project info:

name: The 400-Year Ice Cream

designer: Joll | @_joll_

dimensions: 35.5cm (H) × 44 cm (W) ×8 cm (D)

materials: PVC food replica, white oak frame, iron threaded rod, wing nuts

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. See more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom

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