20.02.2019
During 'Green Week' at my university there were discussions about having a piece of work produced for the courtyard reflecting the urgency of taking action against plastic pollution. After putting myself forward to be apart of the work, I have now become the artist behind the design.
This morning I had a meeting with some of the University's student's union staff relaying my proposed idea and to discuss logistics and dates, negotiating what we want to come from this work as a whole.
My proposal is to do our own interpretation of Hokusai's 'The great wave off Kanagawa'. Hokusai's print is quite a well known and recognisable artwork reflecting the natural disaster of tsunami's. We are at a point of crisis where an estimated 18 billion lbs of plastic enters the ocean every year, we are drowning in plastic similar to the effects of a tsunami itself. The ocean is vital to the survival of hundreds of thousands of species, including us.
We had agreed on the work being 2metres x 2metres to be placed on the wall next to the Cadman Gallery, front facing the entrance to the courtyard. Using a weather proofed hard board hoarding to be installed, I will use plastic bottle tops/caps with resin to seal the work reducing the risk of weathering. I will use bottle tops flat for the background and use them on their side for within the wave. This will create a sense of calculated chaos, up close you will see the movement and drama reflecting the life of a wave itself, and from a distance it will paint a picture of the ocean.
As well as producing a finished outcome to be mounted on the wall, a vital part of this work is bringing the community together to make a difference. Creating awareness about action that needs to be taken and how the students and staff can help. We will be organising workshops with the University's nursery, students and staff where they will be given a chance to get involved by bringing in the material for the work (bottle tops), but also to learn about what they can do to help whilst producing some work together as a group, using similar or the same materials. This installation is about encouraging everyone to get involved together and make a real difference. We are the future and we need to work together to create change.