“`html
An artist in Bath has unveiled an exhibition featuring pieces meticulously crafted from plastic waste, including discarded cleaning bottles and unwanted toys.
Anya Beaumont, the artist behind the exhibition, stated that her inspiration stemmed from the “horror” of recognizing the sheer volume of plastic accumulating in her household. This realization prompted her to seek a creative outlet for the material, “rather than just chucking it in the recycling bin.”
Beaumont noted that upon introducing her “Hopeful Monsters” exhibition, which showcases intricate sculptural and wearable artworks, the most common response was relief. Many expressed gratitude for finally having a place to donate their unwanted plastic.
“I think a lot of people identify with what I’m doing,” Ms. Beaumont added, highlighting the resonance of her work with the public.
The artist, whose exhibition is currently on display at 44AD artspace in Bath until Sunday, emphasized her preference for utilizing pre-existing materials.
“It’s quite depressing [the amount of waste plastic],” she commented, reflecting on the scale of the problem.
“My studio’s getting fuller and fuller.”
Ms. Beaumont’s journey into working with waste plastic began after observing the influx of plastic items brought home by her children from nursery and primary school.
“The infamous party bag would have a toy which they’d love for five minutes then before you knew it it was broken or forgotten about and I’d be left with all this stuff not really knowing what to do with it,” Ms. Beaumont explained.
“In a broader sense I recognised just how much plastic was in the house,” she added, underscoring the widespread presence of plastic in domestic environments.
However, she noted that utilizing the colorful unwanted plastic “means that I’ve got a really vibrant source material to work with,” transforming a problem into an artistic opportunity.
“I don’t need to paint it, I can just collect it, sort it into different colours and there it is ready for me to use,” she elaborated, highlighting the directness and efficiency of her creative process.
In addition to the larger pieces, she is also crafting brightly colored brooches, which visitors can take away from the exhibition as a tangible reminder of the artwork and its message.
Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Former Gloucestershire and England players attend the service for Lawrence, who died last month.
The artwork is located on Union Street in Dudley and was spotted on Friday morning.
Teenagers are reliving childhood memories on the latest Gromit Unleashed trail in Bristol.
Guy Reid-Bailey remembers a young Syd Lawrence with BBC Points West’s David Garmston.
A look at what stories are trending across the West of England on 17 July.
“`