PLASTIC
PLASTIC presented Science Gallery Dublin with a unique opportunity - to design an exhibition with the intention of fostering behaviour change around society’s unsustainable use of plastic.
With the tagline “Can’t live with it, can’t live without it”, PLASTIC invited visitors to explore how we can responsibly use this versatile material, while fundamentally changing our approach to living with plastic.
This exhibition, which was supported by Science Foundation Ireland, was Science Gallery Dublin’s first ever national touring exhibition.
My mission was to oversee the development and creative production of this exhibition.
I put particular focus on the sustainability of this project - in generating the content, producing the exhibition design & build, and ensuring its usability and robustness for touring.
I managed the creative production and delivery of this exhibition.
In generating the exhibition content, I supervised the open call process, worked with the curators and oversaw the production of 7 new commissions.
Artists / Resarchers
Oil Painting - Shih Hsiung Chou
Shaded Seas - Thijs Biersteker
The New Age of Trichology - Sanne Visser
The People’s Plastic - Aziz, Libby Landeberg, Halszka Staniewicz, Frederico Trucchia
Wasted - Sean Breithaupt
P@TCH - Janna Ahrndt
NO PLASTIC BEYOND THIS POINT - Elizabeth Crotty and Conor Fallon
Seafloor - Keith Fitzsimons, Róisín Ní Mheachair, Alex Hennessy, Joe Fahy.
Insert here, to save everything - Robby Collins
Degrading - Michelle McBride
Biohybrid Robotic Respiratory Simulator - Professor Ellen Roche
Better To Transport - Thomas Hoogewerf
A Place for Plastic - Megan Valanidas
3D Printed Organs - Axial3D
An Bó Bheannaithe - AMBER
Curators
Natsai Audrey Chieza - Faber Futures
Ruth Doyle - M.CO
Anne Marie Mahone - Marine and Freshwater Research Center (MFRC), Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
Michael Monaghan - Bioengineering, Trinity College Dublin
New Commissions highlights
Wasted
Artist: Sean Breithaupt
This artwork was commissioned to expose the realities of plastic waste management in Ireland. I liaised with both Sean and the facility to execute this project. I also managed the printing and framing with Inspirational Arts.
Wasted won the Progressive Vision Curtis O’Donoghue Photography Award at the RHA.
Shaded Seas
Artist: Thijs Bierstaker
Shaded Seas is an interactive installation that reflects your movements in pieces of plastic found floating in our oceans. The sensors in the installation track the spectators position of their head, body and hands, mimicked by the pieces of plastic.
I worked closely with Thijs and Woven Studio to create this interactive artwork.
Biohybrid Robotic Respiratory Simulator
Artist: Ellen Roche & Markus Horvath
The Biohybrid Robotic Respiratory Simulator is a soft robotic diaphragm that moves real lung tissue, allowing the patient to breathe.
I worked closely with MIT researcher, Professor Ellen Roche, to create this exhibit.
Exhibition Sustainability
I liaised with sustainability consultancy, Native Events, to ensure the exhibition design and build was as sustainable as possible. Particular care was taken to ensure the build was suitable and eco-friendly for touring.
In partnership with the Lead Designer, I produced the exhibition design.
I managed the exhibition build tender process.
Working with AB Projects, I oversaw the exhibition build development, execution and on-site installation.
PLASTIC is currently on tour
PLASTIC will travel to four cultural centres around Ireland in 2020/2021, including The Highlanes Gallery and Letterkenny Cultural Centre. There have also been expressions of interest from galleries internationally.
100,000 + visitors
And growing…
