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Beyond Drifting: Imperfectly Known Animals

Mandy Barker

With her work, Mandy Barker raises awareness about plastic pollution in the world's oceans whilst highlighting the harmful effects on marine life, and ultimately ourselves.

Plankton form a diverse group of microscopic marine organisms living in the water column, unable to swim against the current - they exist in a drifting, floating, state. These unique ‘specimens’ relate to the pioneering discoveries made by marine biologist John Vaughn Thompson in Cork Harbour, Ireland during the 1800’s.

Presented as microscopic samples, objects of plastic marine debris - recovered from the same location - mimic Thompson’s early plankton discoveries. The work represents contamination of plastic particles in the natural environment, creating the perception of past scientific discoveries when organisms were free from plastic. Presenting new ‘specimens’ created from recovered debris serves as a metaphor for the ubiquity of plastic, encapsulating in miniature the larger problem of an imperfect world.

The movements of the recovered objects, recorded on camera over several seconds, represent individual plankton in the water column. Capturing the plastic on expired film with faulty cameras reinforces the notion of ‘imperfection’ in both technique and subject matter. Nomenclature is the description given to devising new scientific names, of which each specimen has been given, all containing the word ‘plastic’ hidden within the title.

Current scientific research has found that plankton ingest micro plastic particles, mistaking them for food. At the base of the food chain, they are a crucial source of food for many larger creatures. The potential impact on marine life and ultimately man itself is of vital concern. In terms of plankton, and of action, we are ‘Beyond Drifting’, and must bring into focus these ‘Imperfectly Known Animals’.

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Bio
© Mandy Barker
Ophelia medustica.Specimen collected from Glounthaune shoreline, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Pram wheel)
© Mandy Barker
Copeopod langisticus.Specimen collected from Roche’s Point, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Six pack plastic yoke)
© Mandy Barker
Prolcessa edustilcui.Specimen collected from Spike Island, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Scooter wheel)
© Mandy Barker
Pleurobrachia stileucae. Specimen collected from Carrigaloe estuary, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Plastic flower partially burnt)
© Mandy Barker
Heplandista ica.Specimen collected from Carrigaloe estuary, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Electric plug and wire)
© Mandy Barker
Plamacina retroversta ic. I.Specimen collected from Cobh shoreline, Cove of Cork, Ireland(White plastic horse)
© Mandy Barker
Psammela iteusic.Specimen collected from Dunkettle interchange, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Industrial coil)
© Mandy Barker
Plada steuicke.Specimen collected from Blackrock shoreline, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Plastic bottle base)
© Mandy Barker
Fpuslaes maticaus.Specimen collected from Cobh beach, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Catholic necklace)
© Mandy Barker
Nebulae plaurosbrathic. Specimen collected from Carrigaloe estuary, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Plastic flower partially burnt - group)
© Mandy Barker
Aureplia auristice.Specimen collected from Blackrock shoreline, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Shoe sole)
© Mandy Barker
Amphilima distinctae.Specimen collected from Cobh shoreline, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Coathanger)
© Mandy Barker
Maprola stipicros.Specimen collected from Inch beach, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Plastic bottle parts)
© Mandy Barker
Plasterinellic.Specimen collected from Dunkettle Interchange, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Action man figure, without head)
© Mandy Barker
Phoronilasteri crae.Specimen collected from Whitepoint, Cobh shoreline, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Tricycle wheel)
© Mandy Barker
Plamacina retroversta ic. III.Specimen collected from Cobh shoreline, Cove of Cork, Ireland(White plastic horse, 3)
© Mandy Barker
Plividas chloticus.Specimen collected from Fota Island, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Barbie doll arm)
© Mandy Barker
Rhizopolenia robustica.Specimen collected from Fota Island, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Book with plastic cover – ‘Ireland a Terrible Beauty’)
© Mandy Barker
Laplusa forastuic.Specimen collected from Cobh shoreline, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Plastic bags)
© Mandy Barker
Poletastae nipliuc.Specimen collected from Whitepoint, Cove of Cork, Ireland(Container base)
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Mandy Barker

Mandy Barker

UK

MANDY BARKER (b. 1964, UK) is a photographer whose work investigates marine plastic debris. Working with scientists she aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the world’s oceans to highlight current research of the effects on marine life and ultimately ourselves.

Barker is an award-winning photographer shortlisted for the Prix Pictet Award SPACE 2017, and nominated for The Deutsche Börse Foundation Photography Prize 2018 and the Magnum Foundation Fund. She is a recipient of the 2018 National Geographic Society Grant for Research and Exploration. Her work has been published in over 40 countries including National Geographic, Time, The Guardian, Vice, Smithsonian, Geo, and New Scientist.

In 2012 she was awarded The Royal Photographic Society's Environmental Bursary that allowed her to take part in a scientific research voyage that sailed in a yacht from Japan to Hawaii across the North Pacific Ocean. Barker speaks internationally about her work to engage people with the issue, invited as a guest speaker to the National Geographic Photography Seminar 2018 Washington, Stanford University California, and Marfa Dialogues at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

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