The impact of plastic pollution on the marine environment is the theme of an installation at Galway’s Black Box Theatre hosted by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) this weekend.
A large-scale immersive installation has been created entirely from recycled plastics, and it aims to “explore marine biodiversity, plastic pollution, and ocean stewardship through sculptural forms, sound, and light”.
Entitled “Ocean Voices; A Community-Based Marine Literacy Installation”, the event is hosted by students and faculty members of ATU’s BA in Early Childhood Education and Care, together with the Arts Council Artist in Residence and ocean advocate JD Whitman.
“At the heart of this installation is a monumental, enterable inflatable structure
constructed entirely from plastic materials, repurposed from local beaches around Galway Bay,”the organisers state.
“The exterior and interior surfaces come alive through tactile sculptural
elements inspired by marine life forms and plastic material textures immersive
soundscapes and illuminated digital media projections,”they explain.
“The installation embodies the Seven Ocean Literacy Principles and the Seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, grounded in Irish-specific marine research addressing the triple planetary crisis: pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change. "
"Each element of the artwork tells a story of our interconnectedness with the ocean and the urgent need for environmental stewardship,”they state.
Families and community groups and individuals are invited to Saturday’s public event, when the installation will be open at the Black Box Theatre, Galway, from 10 am to 4 pm.
There will also be workshops by Arts Council Artist in Residence dance artist Monica Muñoz, ATU BA Early Childhood Education and Care students and faculty and supporting guests.
