Next Saturday (21st March), the iconic Jubilee Pool will be transformed into a canvas of light and reflection for a one-off screening of ‘Being Plastic’, a contemporary art film by Cornwall-based artist Andy Hughes. Held in conjunction with Plastic Free Penzance, this spectacular projection explores the surreal intersection of marine life, human industry, and the plastic crisis. How can we look at plastic in a different way? And how can that help us tackle the rising tide of plastic pollution?
The evening pairs the film projection with Transparent Tide, a collaborative celebration of local environmental activism. Transparent Tide is an art project created with the Penzance community, transforming local plastic waste into delicate photographic media. Highlighting both the beauty and the fragility of our coastal ecosystems. Artwork from special guest Captain Ban Plastic will also be on display.
“The intensity of these luminous displays generates an eerie, surreal glow… it creates the illusion plastic might be alive!” — Andy Hughes, Artist
From South Korea to Cornwall
The special centrepiece of the evening, Being Plastic, is a mesmerising video loop born from Hughes’ residency on Gapado Island, South Korea. Inspired by the eerie, high-intensity glow of offshore squid-fishing boats, Hughes captures how these artificial lights “reverse” the natural world—tricking the sea into reflecting light from its depths.
Using this visual vocabulary of mirroring and shimmering, Hughes reimagines the world through the eyes of the cephalopod, the inside of a plastic beer bottle, and a molten sunset seen through a special edition Ecover Bio-mimicry Ocean Plastic Bottle. By transforming discarded plastic waste, still and moving image footage into “living” video sculptures, Hughes breathes vitality into “lifeless” materials, creating a visual trickery that parallels the very fishing lights that lure sea life to the surface.
The film will be followed by a talk and Q&A with Andy and Rachel Yates, community lead at Plastic Free Penzance and also Plastic Pollution Campaigns Manager at Surfers Against Sewage. Both with a history of working on plastic pollution, from raising the alarm through photography in the 90s, to spearheading community responses and national campaigns to tackle the rising tide of pollution.
“Plastic has made its way into the deepest part of the ocean, the highest mountain, the air we breathe, the soil we grow in, the food we eat. It’s in our bodies, with research only now just starting to show its effects on human health. Yet plastic production rates soar.
“Plastic entering the ocean looks set to triple by 2040 without concerted effort. By looking at plastic in a different way, and understanding why oil companies and brands are forcing production on us, helps us as communities be part of the solution” Rachel Yates, Plastic Free Penzance
The Transparent Tides exhibition has been live at the Jubilee Pool since February, bringing together artistic and community responses to plastic pollution in the town. A workshop was held to create art for the exhibition and more follow; including a Captain Ban Plastic mask-making workshop and a session on how as individuals and households we can be part of the local plastic free community.
“We are excited to be able to help raise awareness of ocean plastic pollution with our local community, using our iconic lido as an amazing backdrop for the film, the art exhibition, the light installation, and the workshops” COO Giles Gould, Jubilee Pool
You can get more information on:
Captain Ban Plastic Mask Making >> https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982501390025?aff=oddtdtcreator
Being Plastic Film Night >> Being Plastic Film Night with Q&A Tickets, Saturday, Mar 21 from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | Eventbrite
