My work is inspired by the natural beauty and power of the ocean, highlighting the necessity to protect it. Ranging from Coral Bleaching to Period Product Pollution, many different aspects of ocean pollution have been addressed in my work. My most recent work, The Woven Storm, specifically draws attention to the Fishing Industry, and the amount of plastic that it left at sea as a result. 

The Woven Storm is a response to Storm Ciara, which hit the UK in February 2020.  Storm Ciara created waves that reached up to 30ft (10 Metres), with waves as large as 24ft crashing on the beaches of where I live, in South Devon. As a result, heaps of waste plastic washed onto the beaches. For the following two weeks, I collected waste plastic and fishing gear for the purpose of this installation. These weavings are a direct representation of the amount of waste fishing gear floating in the sea. 

This installation also highlights Global Warming, and how our consumerist lifestyles are causing increasing strain on the Earth. Global Warming results in more intense weather e.g. more storms, hotter summers, colder winters, and more weather related natural disaster.The Anthropocene age signals our responsibility in creating these problems and it is our responsibility to start solving and reversing them.

The intention of this installation is to inspire people to make small changes in their lifestyle, to make a large positive impact on the health of the Earth. 

Contact: [email protected]

Instagram: @matildadurantart