October 2017- May 2018
Emma Atkins highlights the global issue of our plastic cluttered oceans in this collection of mixed media paintings on unwanted plastics.
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The collection lets its viewers experience what the world's oceans may look and feel like one hundred from now if we continue to use single use plastics. The collection carefully balances the harsh and unnatural plastic surfaces and thick layers of pollution-like glues with various rock salts and oceanic turquoise tones. Emma Atkins was inspired for the subject matters and compositions of the pieces by the immense crashing waves and deep, rich colours of the coast around Hermanus, South Africa, which she visited and photographed in 2015.
Through textured surfaces and paints, she created a series of six paintings; all made from bonded single use plastics that were unwanted and prepared to be littered. The bonded plastics are plastic bags and packaging were collected by Atkins herself, torn into strips and then glued and ironed together to create six individual clear plastic ‘canvases’ to be painted on. The plastic strips were arranged in ways that resembled waves and the sea’s shores. They were painted with materials that represent the sea’s natural elements, their delicate nature and the pollution that they are drowning in including various rock salts and thick layers of pollution-like glue.
The audience are invited to touch the artworks to experience their fragility and reflect upon the devastating effect human touch has had on the ocean and its inhabitants. Through this, the viewers are invited to have an immersive viewing experience. Emma Atkins is inspired by how the most memorable experiences ignite the sense of touch “The most memorable experiences ignite the sense of touch” (Gallace, A. and Spence, C., 2011).The piece is paired with a tank of materials that describe the plastic pollution in the oceans through a sensory, tactile experience which invites the audience to immerse their hands in it. This aims to create opportunity for those who may not be able to access the artworks visually, to experience them and enhance the exhibition experience.
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The piece is currently on display in the BA (Hons) Creative and Therapeutic Arts Graduate Exhibition, 'Trace'. It is paired with textural and sensory access resources, including examples of unseen test pieces and explorations of textural materials.
