Plastikos
modern titan
2014
Clarke. M, King. H, McLean. L & Ryan, O.
The creation of ‘Plastikos: Modern Titan’ was in response to the endemic issue of single use plastic pollution on the island of Kefalonia in Greece.
Not only is the careless production and consumption of single-use plastic packaging an ever increasing epidemic creating a poisonous cycle that threatens the health of ecosystems, marine life and consequently human life, but it is also ruining the natural beauty of islands such as Kefalonia.
The aim of the exhibition was to raise awareness of the growing plastic pollution problem by constructing the body of the sculpture from plastic gathered from the island's beaches.
The Plastikos project aims to give the problems associated with single use plastics a recognisable face. Using the metaphor of a Greek Titan the sculpture, which dominates the centre of the gallery, seeks to portray the enormity of the issue.
The installation was exhibited at the Ionian Centre for Art and Design and opened to the public in hopes of spreading his message of recognition and change.
Read on to learn his story...
“Plastikos modern titan; The son of Lelantos, the titan of the unseen and of Elais, Goddess of oil. He is the titan of plastics. Since his birth in the mid 19th century, Plastikos has bestowed his gifts upon the people of the world. These gifts have allowed mankind to progress faster and to greater heights than ever before.
In the beginning, man marvelled and gave thanks for the incredible materials, but in time man has forgotten the generosity of Plastikos. We have angered the benevolent titan with the misspending of his gifts. He is becoming more vengeful with every article of the material he provides that is wasted, poorly used or cast into nature. Plastikos has issued an ultimatum: respect him or he will destroy the earth. His gifts will strangle the seas, blanket the land and poison our children.
However, mankind has a chance to stop these effects but they must act quickly. We must value the earth, our home, over consumerism. We must do our utmost to reuse and recycle and be more responsible in our consumption of plastic. Designers have a responsibility to forge a new relationship with consumer goods and the materials used to create them.