Love what you have
Before life teaches you
To love what you
Lost
– unknown
…trying to put my thoughts and research into perspective…
Invertebrates are a much maligned but overwhelmingly crucial component of the living environment. Without invertebrates, humans would disappear very quickly. Their numbers are dropping at an alarming rate and my Handshake work aims to promote awareness of these amazing creatures and the importance of protecting our planets biodiversity .
Looking from a purely human point of view –
- Over 70 % of our food relies on insect pollination
- Invertebrates play a vital role in the way that food grows in the field
- A world without bugs would mean a world without food
- Without these creatures breaking down the nutrients in the soil and pollinating flowers, we would have no beer
- A world without bugs would also mean a world without chocolate (priorities!)
- As insects disappear so does their ability to help us. We need them and now they need us
Everyone can contribute to preserving biodiversity – the actions we take every day shape the environments around us, the ecosystems around us; how we transport ourselves, what we choose to consume, what we do in our backyards, or don’t do, all of these actions have an impact. These can be very positive or monumentally negative. We have the ability to restore environments and help other species, we just often lack the motivation to do so. Life wants to persist, if we let it.
As a maker and a concerned citizen, I need to examine my own choices, including my material ones. How can I talk about the environment in my work and not consider the sustainability of my practice and scrutinize my material decisions. The dilemma, the ongoing mind fuck.
What is the definition of recycled materials? Are they better than recyclable ones? Is repurposing new materials in unconventional ways any better than using them in conventional ways? How does that talk of the environment? When does the goal or outcome of the artwork justify the material choices, and wastage? What to do with all the wastage? How can an ephemeral work be sustainable and environmentally responsible?
I continue to get stuck in this as I work my way through material trials…
