A large-scale artwork responding to the sheer scale of plastic litter that is being deposited into the Thames.
Plastic pollution is a timely, global environmental issue affecting the Thames, waterways and oceans. The World Economic Forum has predicted there will be more plastic than fish in the sea in weight by 2050.
Artist Maria Arceo will highlight this in Future Dust a large-scale artwork responding to the sheer scale of plastic litter that is being deposited into the Thames. The installation will tour to different riverside locations across London and will be illuminated at dusk by Dutch interactive light artist Tim Scheffer.
For the last year, Arceo has been collecting plastic from over 40 beaches along the tidal Thames down to the Estuary. Through beachcombing, handpicking, identifying, and colour-coding found plastic debris. Arceo’s work builds on a deep-rooted fascination for both archaeology and oceanography. Her passion for water led her to seek human footprints on all kinds of aquatic environments.
The piece invites the viewer to question their perception of the environmental impact of plastic, whilst challenging Londoners towards a more sustainable future.
A commission for Totally Thames 2017 supported by King’s College London’s Departments of Chemistry and Geography, Cultural Institute at King’s, Arts Council England, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Hubbub and British Land.
Transport and logistics supported by White’s Transport Ltd Special thanks to Thames21, Metal Culture and @thamesplastic volunteers