Name: Helen O’Shea, Masters of Arts by Research
Website: http://www.helenoshea.ie
An alternative narrative for waste plastics through the creation of artifacts in contemporary art practice. Helen O’Shea Abstract Plastic solves many problems for us in our lives, but once created, and used, it is now creating problems too, taking up space and refusing to break down. Although there is a push to use less plastics in our lives going forward, we also need to look at solutions for the waste plastics we have already created. It takes a lot of resources to create plastics and our practices of disposal and recycling fall considerably short of reclaiming any of this value back.
This research investigates how artists can provide fresh ways of looking at the reservoir of material that is waste plastics. Exploring the breadth of contemporary commentators on used plastics highlighted the complexity of what is happening with this material “between desire and detritus” (Thill, 2015, p. 8). Information ranges from, the commentary on social media looking at cultural practices, to the chemical breakdown impacting environments, and how we understand the disposal of used plastics. Data was collected from reflective notebooks in the researcher’s own art practice, and from a project with artists asked to use plastic in their own practice. They were asked about their experience in a semi-structured interview and their specific artwork was analysed. The main themes arising were that of engagement and bonding.
Artists using this waste material experientially build a connection with it, which immediately recategorises it from wasted to wanted. Similarly seeing the material presented in the contemporary art world offers it a very different platform and context in which to be viewed. Artists are well positioned to offer alternate narratives, through exhibition of artefacts but also through education opportunities where connection is promoted spreading a different perception for this pre-used material.
