Products of Our Influences

Following the uproar of the Brexit amendment of bringing EU legislation into UK law, I wanted to respond to the issue that the vote did not pass, that the UK recognises that animals are sentient beings. On the 2nd December, a demonstration in support of all animals who do feel pain took place at Trafalgar Square, walking down to the Houses of Parliament. 

Utilising this opportunity, I took direct inspiration from campaign designs and also textiles - in particular, The Pussy Hat Project, which I discovered during my visit to the Design Museum’s ‘Beazley Designs of the Year 2017’ exhibition. 

I had never attended a protest before, nor created designs/art to be used in a live protest/crowd. I wanted to participate to gain experience and inspiration, while also advocating for a cause that I believe in (animal rights). In addition to this, as I was heavily inspired by The Pussy Hat Project, I decided that I wanted to incorporate textiles and fabric within my outcome, as this is something that I hadn’t dabbled into, and wanted to experience. 

I decided to produce a collection of bandanas, which could be worn by humans and also animals, as I consider humans to be part of the animal kingdom. I wanted to unite us, and our emotions, to communicate that animals can feel emotions and pain just as we do, as we are not that different. This is symbolised not only in the act of wearing the same bandana as your pet but also in the artwork, as I have used a paw print and a human print to signify our unity. The on black on yellow is quite striking, and so I think this works well for being used during a protest, as it’s bold and eye-catching.

The last time I used a sewing machine was back in 2011, so it was challenging to remember how to operate a sewing machine, and also to create my pattern pieces from scratch - something which I had never done before. I decided to dye my fabric as opposed to purchasing yellow rolls as this is something that I had no prior knowledge or experience with, and so I wanted to challenge myself with these pieces thoroughly. 

Ideally, I would have liked to have screen printed the artwork that I created so that it had a more permanent and durable finish. However I was conscious of the mistakes that arise with screen printing (due to my limited experience); thus I didn’t want to risk ruining my limited batch of bandanas (as hand dying, cutting and stitching

 these myself, was very time consuming and resulted in a limited number of pieces of different sizes for different pets). Instead, I opted for transfer paper which was finicky and quite awkward. 

In addition to the bandanas, I printed stickers, ordered a vinyl banner to accommodate our protesting, and also a series of limited risograph prints. This includes the original artwork, as well as using the paw/handprints as a recurring tile pattern. I wanted to use the risograph during this project as I wanted to put myself as far out of my comfort zone and usual practices as possible. Following from this, I collaborated with a classmate, to illustrate UK animals that would be in danger, if the animal sentient law did not pass; this includes foxes and badgers due to hunting. These illustrations were then designed so that they would animate, and imitate your facial expressions and movement when you look at the screen (with the use of a webcam). This further emphasises our similarities, as the animal reflects your own human emotion. 

My process has been documented photographically in a collection of polaroids, screenshots and Instagram posts that have been collated within an A5 photo album. This gives it quite a human, and personal touch, as I consider this project to be a reflection of my own beliefs and issues, I believe to be of importance. 

Container Principle

I live in a walking proximity to the Thames as I am based just outside of London, and the university campus is situated along the edge of the Gallions Point Marina. Usually, when thinking of the River Thames, the words disgusting, diseased and polluted come to mind (along with an image of very foul, dirty sewage water). However, to my surprise, after a little research, I discovered that the estuary is no longer biologically dead and actually contains species that are only present in non-polluted waters. The Thames is also the cleanest river that runs through a major city. 

This information fascinated me, and I furthered my research by exploring sea life that is present in the water. I was even more shocked to discover that aquatic mammals such as seals, dolphins and porpoises have been spotted throughout London. After acquiring this information, I asked a large number of people (who are local to the city) if they knew of any life present, and also their thoughts on the Thames. All of those who I asked assumed that no life other than eels and ‘undesirable’ fish roamed the stream, thus when they were then told about the surprisingly diverse discoveries in the Thames, they were shocked, and some in utter disbelief. 

I found it surprising that as locals, we know so little about our own city and surroundings, and as a result of this lack of knowledge, the area can often be abused with littering and fly tipping.

In response to this, I have proposed the design that a shipping container (which has negative impacts on the environment) can be reused and repurposed to actually give back to the situation. I have proposed that the container is shocked with an electrical current, so that limestone crystalises on the surface, making it suitable to be eventually submerged within the river and used as an artificial algae reef, to increase the biodiversity within the estuary. However before it reaches that point, the container will be utilised as an informative gallery space, to exhibit infographics, film, art etc. that educates visitors on the life within our river. 

I have designed the container in two stages. Stage one being above water, alongside the Docklands, to be used as the education gallery and stage two being submerged in water as the artificial algae reef. This increase in primary producers will increase the primary consumers such as bottom feeders and crustaceans, which will, in turn, increase the population of small fish and then aquatic mammals. To visualise this space, I have designed the container within Unity and hope for people to be able to experience this proposal through the use of an oculus rift. This was my first time using a 3D programme, and I enjoyed the challenge of experiencing something new and learning more skills along the way.