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| Poster for MA Show |
The Poster used for the end of project show at University Lincoln.
MA studio in Design end of Degree Show June 2019.
Ecology Evolution Project
My project is about green issues, I have choice to develop my own inks for printing and have experimented with dying fabrics to find the right pigments using natural resources. This idea has come from the need for eco conscious values to be embedded into my art work.
The objective for my art work is to encourage social impact in regard to ecology issues linked to our depleting natural world within our oceans and more specifically protecting Antartica. My point has been to use visuals to encourage consumers and viewers to seek a deeper understanding of their own carbon foot print and to change their consumer behaviour to use less single use plastics.
The main issue I have decided to use within my set work is the current climate change emergency and have choicen a Green Peace Campaign ”Antarctica Ocean Santuary”
Imagery has been based around oceans and the need to save the worlds ecology and especially the need to reduce single use plastics.
I am hoping to encourage green living and to awaken the need to protect Antarctica via the need for everyone to consider their own carbon footprint and reduce their single use plastic purchases.
I have chosen a blog to record all my developments of which print making has been my main area of interest. The blog has been converted into a book which has become the main focus of my project showing my design journey in a comprehensive format.
Book conversion from my blog.(naturesarmour.blogdpot.com)
Side view of blog to book .MA Journals:Ecology Evolution.
Inside cover of MA Journals: Ecology Evolution.
Inside of MA Journals:Ecology Evolution
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| Journal pages showing sketches :design developments. |
Inside pages of blog to book conversion.
MA Journal : Ecology Evolution showing publishing lay out.
MA Journals Ecology Evolution : Printing developments.
I have used natural resources in my work and believe if a product can return to the earth without too much pollution ie compostable materials, then it’s a lot less environmentally destructive than man made plastics which take hundreds of years to decompose.
My MA project is about looking at how natural resources are depleting and how ecology is developing in order to create a better future for our planet and how traditional art can be intergrated within digital technology to create new imagery that encourages consumers to think in a more eco conscious value and by doing this can help with the reduction of carbon emissions to draw down climate change to save Antarctica from disappearing.
Eco Evo:Green Issues
Images of MA Show and MA Journal.
By Victoria Meadows
MA Design : Dissertation
History of Conservation of Nature
The beginning
of conservation and respect for nature can be seen through history starting
from early history of mankind when nature’s wildlife and seasons were
incorporated into early religions i.e Sun gods, sacrifices to improve weather
changes and harvests. Customs and ancient ceremonies to pay homage to the
earth’s natural surroundings can be seen through different cultures around the
world.
Specific laws
were created in medieval times to protect woodland for the pleasure of nobility
and royals. After the Norman conquest large areas of land were annexed using
forest laws.
Some of the
first conservation areas of the early medieval period were granted mainly so
that landowners and royalty could hunt freely. Knowing there would not be any
depletion of game in their private woods by making it illegal to poach on the
kings lands
Forest laws
were extended in the 18th century called the black law, hanging
people for encroaching on to Royal hunting grounds. These laws extended to
overseas colonies of which the remnants are used to create conservation areas
today. Re wilding is a relatively old theory which is being used today to
create new Natural areas of land to help reach drawdown to prevent global warming
Conservation needs of today go far more than previously has ever seen. Individuals can become a movement of people activism, campaigning and demanding change through group discussions and using the world web. I have challenged this theory through my blog "NaturesArmour,blogspot.com and through my dissemination I added my blog to social media, it is also currently life on line. I have received enough feedback to increase my page reviews by adding to community blogsites to increase awareness of climate change, lifestyle choices and green design strategies within design.
Environmental Impact of
Humans
Historically
humans have been having an impact on our environment since evolution evolved
our planet and homo Sapiens became the super power race against most predators.
When as hunters and gathers humans started to farm and domesticate animals we
can see climate change being effected by mankind’s lifestyle.
During the late
19th century within Industrial Revolution a number of Artists and
critics voiced their concerns. In regard to pollution. (“If only the geologists
would let me alone, I could do very well, but those dreadful Hammer’s! I hear
the dink of them at the end of every cadence of the Bible verses”.(John Ruskin,
letter to Henry Acland 1851).
As the textile designer, poet and social activist William Morris explains the need that "Nature and History Morris asserted were, or at least ought to be, the two great teachers of mankind. This statement shows in part Morris's environmentist values and is connected to the pre-Raphaelite art movement that includes the aesthetic movement. His hatred for the industrial revolution is well documented. When researching textile history we can see great changes during the industrial revolution created by Britain's technical innovations resulting in social change.
Textile Technologies/Handmade
Within the twentieth and twenty-first century we are seeing new transformations of design, manufacture and consumer interaction. As it is explained in The Handbook of Textile Culture "In a post-industrial culture the artisanal, material cultures once marginalized as lacking the authority of symbolic meaning, or the capacity for abstract thinking, are becoming reconsidered as a source of knowledge. Integrating the techne-technique and technologies of manufacturer by hand and machine". A new collaboration of the old and the new, techniques, philosophies and theories of knowledge.
Design Choices and
Lifestyle Issues
“The Romantic
movement which included aestheticism were protesting over the destruction of
idyllic rural life for a world of dark Satanic Mills written in William Blake’s
1804 poem.” (Lewis and Maslin.2018.206). One of the earliest environmental
needs based action campaigns was created by the artist/poet Sir William Blake.
He started an organization called the coal smoke abatement society which was
founded in Richmond in 1898 which resulted in the smoke abatement Act including
soot, ash and gritty particles.
Another well
known campaign that ended in a riot was in Nottinghamshire when “artisanal
textile workers broke machines to defend their wages against further declines.
Known as the Luddites they began in Arnold, Nottingham, on 11th
March 1811, with over two thousand people marching and then smashing
sixty-eight spinning frames”.(Lewis and Maslin,2018.206).
Scientific revolution
sprung into the new industrial world. An example of this is when in 1824 Joseph
Aspdin patented a chemical process known as Portland cement which has since
revolutionized building techniques. Electricity, the invention of the light
bulb and the use of fossil fuels have contributed to today’s global warming.
A lot of new
knowledge came out of the 19th century including Darwin’s theory of
evolution which set religious philosophy against scientists in fact Darwin did
not publish his papers due to concerns via ridicule from religious leaders.
Carbon Dioxide Spike
Scientists are working across the globe
researching how environmental strategies
across the globe are being carried out in order to keep current and develop new emerging
techniques to reverse global warming.
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http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence(14.08.2019 3.00pm)this graph is based on the comparison of atmospheric samples contained in ice cores and more recent direct measurements, provides evidence that atmospheric C02, has increased since the industrial revolution.
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Ocean Theme
Oceans and sea
creatures have been depicted within art and design since ancient Greeks and
Romans and other ancient cultures, tribes and religions. I have chosen to use
oceans, wildlife, natural flora, nautical imagery as my focus in order to
improve knowledge of conservation and marine ecology of our oceans. The oceans contain a huge variety of life recent estimations conclude their are up to 2 million species found in and around coral reefs, the sea produces around half of all oxygen we breath( thanks to phytoplankton, tiny single cell ocean plants). The ocean also sequences large amounts of dangerous carbon dioxide. The ocean regulates our climate, cool waters soak up heat from the sun, they are a big part of our life support system. It is estimated that that 8 million tonnes of plastic waste is dumped in our oceans and it is set to double by 2025
Environmentalists
Ocean biologist
Jacque Cousteau (1910-1997) was an inspiration when I was growing up and also
for many people interested in ocean environmental and conservation issues.
Recently Jaques
Cousteau’s grandson has been part of a series of documentaries highlighting
environmental and conservation issues of our planets oceans. He specializes in
oceanography which is looking into scientific aspects of our oceans to better
understand what is happening due to pollution and global warming issues.
His grandson has recently
also highlighted concerns in regard to melting ice gaps in Antarctica and has
explained present forecasts are not accurate.
This graph by Nasa on line shows up to date figures going back to 1979.
A clip from CNN News on Jacque Cousteau
