Art
Altered Ocean
The Royal Photographic Society presents this new exhibition by Mandy Barker at its newly opened photographic centre at Paintworks.
Mandy’s photos explore the topical environmental issue of plastics in our oceans.
Mandy Barker (b. 1964, UK) is an international award-winning photographer whose work investigates the issue of marine plastic debris. Working with scientists she aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the world’s oceans to highlight current research of the effects on marine life and ultimately ourselves. Her work has been exhibited globally and published in over 40 different countries.
In 2012 she was awarded the RPS / The Photographic Angle Environmental Awareness Bursary, which enabled her to sail across the North Pacific Ocean as part of a scientific research expedition to photograph recovered plastic from the tsunami debris field. In 2019 she will take part in a scientific expedition to one of the remotest locations on the planet to represent groundbreaking research in plastic pollution.
Altered Ocean documents Barker’s visual journey as a photographic artist combining science, with the issue of marine plastic pollution. Supporting sketchbooks and research notes connect the relationship between the practical work and the research that informs it. Plastic and scientific samples allow the visitor to engage fully with the current critical issue of plastic pollution in our oceans.
Alongside the exhibition the RPS will present a dynamic programme of educational events around the theme of Marine Plastics. Professor Richard Thompson OBE Head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth and Mandy Barker will give a talk on 5 April entitled When Art & Science meet Plastic.
Film producer and plastic pollution campaigner Jo Ruxton will also give a talk on her work with BBC Blue Planet and co-founding Plastics Ocean UK (the first charity focused on plastics) on 26 April. There will also be a ‘meet the artist’ event with Mandy Barker at The RPS on 18 May.
Apr 4-June 23, Thur 10am-6pm / Fri 11am-7pm / Sat & Sun 10am-5pm, £7/£5 concs. For more information www.mandy-barker.com or www.rps.org/exhibitions
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