This exhibition was in conjunction with the Mayor of London’s “love London” scheme. This was a group exhibition but we individually applied for the exhibition through the magazine art monthly.
The exhibition brief was to create something in keeping with the environment but use recycled materials. I decided that it would be appropriate to create a sculpture that was in line with the main focus of the centre, i.e., birds, but I wanted to make a social comment on how we as humans live in a throw – away society. Following a visit to the centre, I decided to create swans. I realised that everywhere we look there are discarded umbrellas. Swans are majestic and umbrella’s lent themselves to trying to display that aspect. My practice has always followed the idea of creating from discarded material or from unusual media/material.
I had been heavily involved in working with plastics/bin liners/bottles and decided to combine the two. The exhibits were placed near the water where the swans frequented. I was fascinated by the idea that the swans would react in different ways to the alien in their environment.