Artist Statement

Public Space, Plastic Marks
In Melbourne as in all urban centres, the Earth is enveloped in man-made materials rendering the original landscape almost invisible. It is only via the allocation of public space—parklands and green corridors—that we are sometimes given access to the original landscape. I view these as holes left in the asphalt and concrete allowing us to reconnect with the earth and encourage us to come together as a community for recreation and entertainment.

Despite these spaces being allocated for our pleasure and/or sanity, on closer inspection we leave upon these public spaces marks. Plastic marks.

All the plastic materials for these brooches were gleaned five miles from the sea in public spaces and parklands. Despite whether it is five miles North, North East or North West, a plethora of plastic waste is found. Sometimes the waste is obscured but nevertheless it remains one of our most significant marks on the land.

The brooches form an intimate study of the seemingly insignificant: small foraged pieces of plastic. The enlarged photographs, whilst highlighting the individual textures and colours, serve to reinforce the gravity of the underlying problem.