Danny Manning
Artist Statement
My most recent work is inspired by the rubbish washed up on Brighton’s Beach and collected by the SEALIFE staff in their Beach clean project. This work is a response to a current environmental dilemma. It is now estimated that twelve million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean each year. By 2050, plastic will outweigh all the fish in the ocean. (Sussex Express 2022)
The process has involved retrieving these everyday things that we throw away and presenting them in a new and fascinating dimension. I take for example discarded fishing nets that have washed up on our beaches and transform them into sculptures, often depicting the very natural life they threaten. I have utilised just a limited range of tools and craft techniques to do this, including a range of basketry techniques such as ‘coil’ and ‘twinning’. Effectively, my works turn harmful trash into precious treasures that stand as powerful reminders of the harm modern industrial materials can have on our wildlife.
My work recycles a diverse selection of rubbish, but my favourite materials are drinks can metal and polypropylene rope known as ‘ghost netting’ regularly found on beaches. From these materials I have also created innovative baskets and jewellery. I have had work included in two touring shows entitled ‘From Trash to Treasure: A Revaluation of Plastics’. These exhibitions aim to inspire, inform, and encourage everyone to experience the fun of creative recycling and have been accompanied with a range of workshops.
