Hong Kong Science Museum
Hong kong
26 November 2015 – 17 February 2016
"Out to Sea? The Plastic Garbage Project", the latest thematic exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum, will be held from 27 November 2015 until 17 February 2016, showcasing works of art using plastic waste to explore how plastic waste is threatening the whole marine ecosystem.
The exhibition aims to arouse public awareness of plastic pollution in the oceans. By combining elements of science and art, this exhibition shows an ecological catastrophe with strong visual impact. The display's centerpiece, comprising a large volume of plastic debris collected from the seas around the world, will capture the attention of visitors. In addition to this installation, there are interactive exhibits and audio-visual programs to introduce the science behind plastic products and the threats presented to the Earth.
Since the start of the 20th century, plastic has been widely used in our everyday lives. However, it is hardly degraded naturally and as such causes tremendous problems for landfill sites. When plastic rubbish gets into the oceans, it ends up forming sea garbage gyres which threaten the marine ecosystem to a large extent.
Symbolizing the ecological catastrophe, the highlight exhibit "A Nightmare at Sea" is an installation consisting of plastic flotsam collected from beach cleaning operations at the North Sea, Hawaii, the Baltic Sea and elsewhere, allowing visitors to understand more about the origins, life cycle and more of plastic products.
The exhibition also features "Plastic in the Sea", which shows the deadly impact of plastic on the seas, animals and human beings, while "Plastic in Everyday Life" introduces the chemical composition, classification and recycling processes of different plastic products and explores ways of minimizing the disposal of plastic items.
To enhance students' environmental awareness of marine pollution in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Science Museum invited students from Project WeCan to take part in beach clean-up activities and make artworks using plastic garbage for display in the exhibition.
Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, the exhibition is organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum, the Museum für Gestaltung Zurich, and Connecting Spaces Hong Kong - Zurich of the Zurich University of the Arts. The exhibition has been created by the Museum für Gestaltung Zurich, and the sponsor is the Drosos Foundation. The exhibition partners are Project WeCan and UOB Art Academy, and the supporting organisations include the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, the Ocean Recovery Alliance and the Inter-departmental Working Group on Clean Shorelines.
Under the "Appreciate Hong Kong" Campaign, all museums of the LCSD will offer free admission for the entire month of January 2016 in order to encourage more visits to museums, where experiences of creativity, enjoyment and inspiration await.