Here to Stay

Here to Stay is the first work in the series of mixed media sculptural works was inspired by coming across a journal which had an image of a dissected sea gull’s stomach. This image showed all the plastic items that the sea gull had swallowed during its life span which included numerous pieces of plastic. Taking this image a step further, new species is being created where the birds have swallowed so much plastic that parts of their anatomy are composed of plastic, so they come to have plastic beaks, wings, feet and so on. Embroidered patterns and painted sections are also incorporated which reference colorful patterns of some birds with a combination of textiles from South East Asia.

The title Here to Stay relates to the duality of the non biodegradability of plastic and also references the voices of the post-Windrush communities and cultures that are ‘here to stay’ in post-Brexit UK. 

This work is in the permanent collection at The Whitworth. Manchester acquired as part of the Art Fund New Collecting Award.