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Intermission: Sea 'SOUP' and Pollution
In a series of hauntingly gorgeous photographs entitled “SOUP,” UK-based photographer, Mandy Barker, captures a visual interpretation of sea pollution, mainly focusing on bright, plastic debris. While Barker accumulated the plastics from beaches all over the world to represent a “global collection of debris that has existed for varying amounts of time in the world’s oceans,” the series particularly references an area in the North Pacific Ocean called “the Garbage Patch,” famous for its exceptionally high plastic, sludge, and waste levels.
Barker not only draws attention to the disturbing amount of pollution in our oceans, but also to the sea creatures who are fatefully attracted to the garbage. According to Barker, “The sequence of images in SOUP reveal a narrative that begins with the initial attraction of plastics to sea creatures, their attempted ingestion, and ending with their ultimate death represented by ‘SOUP:Ruinous Remembrance.'" Barker started her project two years ago, but as marine pollution continues to exist, "SOUP" remains a work in progress.
"Turtle"
Ingredients: plastic turtles that have circled and existed in The North Pacific gyre for 16 years. Additives: ducks, beavers and frogs.
"Bird's Nest"
Ingredients: discarded fishing line that have formed nest-like balls due to tidal and oceanic movement. Additives: other debris collected in its path.
"Tomato"
Ingredients: red plastic debris.
"Refused"
Ingredients: plastic oceanic debris affected by the chewing and attempted injestion by animals. Includes a toothpaste tube. Additives: teeth from animals.
"Ruinous Remembrance"
Ingredients: plastic flowers, leaves, stems and fishing line. Additives: bones, skulls, feathers and fish.
"500+"
Ingredients: representing more than 500 pieces of plastic debris found in the digestive tract of a dead albatross chick in the North Pacific Gyre.
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