Gallery

ARTWORK DETAILS

Name: Tori Kavanagh	School:
Title: Improvement in Progress	Medium: Installation
Description: A multi-faceted installation, comprising of multiple components, featuring and hand-painted sign that explores the issue of pollution.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Improvement in Progress, explores the downfall of humankind’s interactions with nature and the issue of pollution. The sculpture prompts viewers to change their ways and to take steps that benefit the environment by providing a glimpse of a future rubbish filled landscape, taken over by plastic, paper and metal, the key land pollutants. The sign prompts audiences to consider if their actions are tokenistic or if their habits genuinely assist with the pollution problem prevalent on our Earth’s surface.

ARTWORK PROCESS

A piece of imitation turf was used as the foundation for the installation. A caution sign was located, original text and imagery were removed then aggressive text was added using POSCA markers and a brain, with red highlights to reflect anger towards those who destroy the environment was added using acrylic paint. Vines were constructed using low gauge, soft wire and leaves that were cut from green coloured plastic and magazine articles relating to pollution, were attached. Finally, a number of articles relating to littering fines were, discoloured and scrunched-up and added to the work.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Tori Kavanagh

Tori Kavanagh is an emerging artist that has been studying Visual Art since 2017. Tori feels most comfortable when creating realistic drawings predominately using graphite on paper, however for this work she pushed the boundaries taking her work from her comfort zone of two-dimensional to a three-dimensional installation. After witnessing the lack of litter in her local area during the Covid-19 lockdowns and the rapid rise in rubbish levels after the lockdowns, Tori was inspired to develop a work that prompted audiences to be more mindful about their actions when it comes to littering.