Mandy Barker shows us in her exhibition the devastating impact of the pollution of seas and oceans by plastic waste, an environmental problem that she has documented for more than 15 years through her striking photographs at the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona until the end of September 2024 in the exhibition *Oceans. From Renoir to microplastics*.
In a combination of art and science, he highlights one of the biggest environmental problems at a global level: the pollution of the oceans.
As she herself explains: “the aim of her work is to interact with the viewer and stimulate their emotional response, combining a contradiction between the initial aesthetic attraction and the subsequent message of awareness”. In addition to highlighting their research process that is based on scientific facts, essential for the integrity of their work and to achieve true positive action.
“The aim of my work is to engage with and stimulate an emotional response in the viewer by combining a contradiction between initial aesthetic attraction along with the subsequent message of awareness. The research process is a vital part of my development as the images I make are based on scientific fact, essential to the integrity of my work. The impact of marine plastic is an area I have documented for 15 years and am committed to pursuing through visual interpretation, and in collaboration with science I hope it will ultimately lead to positive action in tackling this increasing environmental problem, which is currently of global concern”.
Image titled “Indefinite – 1-3 Years”, a stunning photograph of a partially damaged shopping bag is part of Mandy’s first series on plastic pollution in the sea. One to three years is the optimistic estimate of how long it will take for the stock market to degrade in the ocean. Animals often eat garbage bags because they mistake them for jellyfish and squid, so their digestive system is blocked and causes death.
The starting point of the exhibition is the oil painting *Pornic Beach* (1892) by Auguste Renoir, which presents an idyllic vision of the beaches, still free of plastic pollution. This atonement can also be enjoyed by others by artists such as Santiago Rusiñol, Joaquín Torres García and Hermen Anglada Camarasa, contrasting strikingly with Barker’s photographs, in which the aesthetic beauty of plastic waste transformed into art reminds us of the serious problem we face.
This exhibition is part of *La Regata Cultural*, a set of activities promoted by the Barcelona City Council to accompany the celebration of the America’s Cup of Sailing, connecting sport, art and sustainability in the fight against ocean pollution.
Image, titled “Barcode – 50P 300015 (USA)”, shows plastic products from more than 25 different countries that were collected from Henderson Island, located 5000 km from the nearest landmass in the southern Pacific Ocean.
Oceans. From Renoir to Microplastics with works by Mandy Barker
