A revealing exhibition at the Museu Diocesà de Barcelona
The Oceans exhibition. From Renoir to microplastics, curated by the art historian Helena Alonso, invites us to reflect on the impact of human beings on the pollution of the seas and oceans.
This exhibition, which is at the Museu Diocesà de Barcelona until August 25, presents fifty pieces, highlighting the forty-three impressive images of British artist Mandy Barker, recognized for her dedication to raising awareness about marine plastic pollution .
The transition from beauty to harsh reality
The exhibition links to Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s painting, Platja de Pornic (1892), showing an idyllic vision of beaches, far removed from today’s plastic pollution. Through a palette of warm colors, the artist captures the bucolic harmony of a bygone era.
Next to works by masters such as Santiago Rusiñol or Joaquín Torres García, contemporary pieces are also highlighted, such as the shocking photographs of Mandy Barker. The contrast between the past and the present alerts us to the current crisis of ocean pollution.
The visual message of the show: rawness and awareness
The exhibition presents works such as Enric Serra’s 1900 painting and Mandy Barker’s photograph of a dead bird at sea, highlighting the tragic reality of marine life affected by plastic pollution. Commissioner Helena Alonso emphasizes the importance of raising society’s awareness of this serious environmental problem.
Barker’s photographs, in addition to their aesthetic beauty, have a strong visual impact that seeks to raise awareness about the inadequate management of plastic. The UN data on limited recycling and the consequences for marine and human ecosystems are presented in a compelling way.
Mandy Barker’s fusion of art and environmental awareness
Working with oceanographers and marine biologists, Mandy Barker captures the rawness of plastic pollution through global expeditions. His photographs, such as Lost at Sea or Where… am I going?, show the alarming reality of today’s oceans and seek to generate a lasting impact on the viewer.
