Waves

The waves consist of a series of five books - similar structures but each unique. The covers are shaped into a wave, - the pages made from various fine papers. These have been saturated in inks and wax to create transparent layers. Each book has a different 'voice' - a comment on the health of our oceans. I have incorporated quotes from people such as Sylvia Earle, Al Gore, and others who work tirelessly to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change and thoughtless dumping of rubbish into the oceans. They, and others like them, help us to see what is happening beyond our own little part of the world. 

​The work will be on show at Turn the Page Artist Book Fair, The Forum, Norwich on 25th/26th May 2018.

A quote from Al Gore The Earth in Balance.

Plastic pages which mimic seaweed, tumble forward, spilling out of the book which can no longer contain them. I wanted to convey the idea that all is not what it first appears. We can think everything appears fine, but all is not good below the surface. Discarded plastic does not degrade - it just becomes smaller and smaller. Fish, birds and other marine life can not easily distinguish plastic from prey and ingest these particles with serious consequences. It not only affects marine life but ripples through the whole food chain ending with us!

Sadly this week has seen the announcement that plastic has been found in the deepest part of the ocean - the Mariana Trench. The discovery was made at 36,00ft (10,898 m) with some of the  pieces dating back thirty years.

​https:www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/09/worlds-deepest-plastic-bag-foundbottom-mariana-trench-highlighting/

It seems nowhere is immune from this ever increasing 'invasive wave' of pollution. On a more hopeful note the topic is at least making headlines and forcing politicians to discuss and think about it's implications. It is on the 'agenda'

Other hopeful news sees the efforts of a young Dutch man, Boyen Slat, gaining momentum in his work to find ways to clean up this rubbish from the oceans. His foundation - Ocean Cleanup Foundation, is set to launch the largest clean up this summer. Follow their progress on facebook. 

https://www.facebook.com/TheOceanCleanup/