Beyond Borders: People, Plastic and Pollution

Presented by The Embassy of Sweden & Students at the ANU School of the Art and Design

A collaborative art exhibition exploring the issue of plastic pollution – a problem transcending national borders

In June 2022, Stockholm+50, an important UN-mandated international environmental meeting, will be held in Stockholm, Sweden. In the context and spirit of Stockholm+50, the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra wants to engage Australian stakeholders in a dialogue on an environmental issue of significant importance – plastic pollution.

With the objective to highlight the problem of plastic pollution, the Embassy of Sweden and the School of Art & Design at the Australian National University are jointly organizing the exhibition Beyond Borders: People, Plastic and Pollution at the Embassy of Sweden in Canberra. The exhibition is created by a group of young Australian art and design students who examines plastic pollution through creative art.

Re:waste - a Swedish exhibition developed by the Swedish Institute focusing on circularity, will also be on display.

PHYT!

View the kaleidoscopic installation PHYT, transporting you to the deep underwater world of phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are the building block of sea life and if we wish to have a "blue future" they play an important role. Phytoplankton contribute approximately 80% of the world’s oxygen through the process of photosynthesis and are crucial for life below and above water.

We invite you to move throughout the space and fully immerse yourself in the mesmerizing microscopic world of phytoplankton. Consider the beauty of these microorganisms and respond with our wire activity. Furthermore, once leaving the space engage with “Joining the PHYT!” and together we can continue learning about these small mighty producers, embarking on a journey to rid our oceans of microplastics.

Bedroom Plastic

A critical barrier to reducing ocean plastics is awareness and understanding of the issue in society. Many people don’t know how serious the impact of this pollution is on the environment, and if the ocean is not a part of their daily lives it may seem like a distant issue.

As you move through the space, consider how it would feel to have your own home filled with plastic waste. This bedroom is a glimpse into what it’s like to live in an environment polluted by plastics, and helps us to understand the impact of our plastic waste in the oceans, the home of sea life.

Also showing - Re:waste - how Sweden is rethinking resources

The excess of waste constitutes a global crisis that requires all of us to do our part. The exhibition Re:waste outlines the underlying problems, the steps we all have to take to get out of the situation, and introduces clever new innovations in development and on the market. A successful approach to solve the crisis must be based on a properly managed waste hierarchy and a striving for a circular economy.