Dreamland has joined the war on plastic pollution by commissioning a large-scale billboard mural for the park.
The second of its ‘Mural-by-the-Sea’ series of works, commissioned with StudioTAC, will be created by Daniel Webb of Bon Volks studios in Margate.
Daniel did not dispose of any plastic for a year to create the piece and raise awareness of the pollution problem.
Mural-by-the-Sea is a 12-month programme commissioning five separate artists to produce five bespoke works of art for the large-scale billboard mural outside the Hall by the Sea.
The first piece was People Like You Love by Jacob Love which was part of the celebration of Margate Pride.
Future commissions will come from Margate and across the country, including Spike Island in Bristol.
Pollution
To create the latest piece Daniel did not throw away any plastic that he used – not even a straw, bottle top or clothing label, for 12 months. This resulted in a staggering amount of plastic being collected.
Everyday Plastic is his photograph featuring recognisable brands and familiar items in a host of colours, shapes and sizes. The sheer volume of plastic consumption by only one person is clearly demonstrated and the piece is particularly relevant given Dreamland’s location by Margate Sands. The aim of the abstract piece is to raise awareness in an accessible, honest and direct manner.
The piece will be on show from Friday, March 30, when Dreamland reopens for the Easter holidays, until May 21.
Daniel said: “What started out as a bit of an experiment has become a pertinent snapshot of the ubiquity of plastic use and I’m really happy to raise awareness. The results are as stark as they are shocking.
“With the help of photographer Ollie Harrop, I want to show and share with people what a year’s worth of plastic use looks like. This simple ambition forms the concept of the piece, which centres around our individual contribution to plastic pollution.
“For me this isn’t about telling people off or preaching at them: my hope is that visitors to Dreamland see the piece and come away with their own conclusions about plastic.”
Rebecca Ellis, Senior Creative Producer at Dreamland Margate said: “Mural-by-the-Sea is an amazing opportunity for people locally and nationally to put forward ideas and get involved with the cultural goings on at Dreamland. We are excited to be working with such a diverse range of studios and artists and can’t wait to reveal this commission to the public.”