Together with four research colleagues, Sara Ullström, has in a study identified five interconnected problems linked to society's use of plastic: the toxicity of the material, disposable use, dependence on fossil raw materials, the long duration of the plastic, and the litter that plastic gives rise to. The researchers analysed 35 different works of art and exhibitions to see which elements or problems related to plastic they presented. The study is presented in the journal Global Sustainability.
The results show that a majority of the works highlight elements such as littering and disposable use. Many works also suggested that our consumption and the way we handle plastic are the main causes of these problems. The works of art, on the other hand, focused less on the link between plastic and climate change, overproduction, material toxicity and recycling.
- Not only established artists, but also private individuals can now influence and create change through works of art and photographs. If other parts of society, such as politicians, industry and interest groups, begin to pay attention to several aspects of the plastic problem, I believe that in the long run we will see a more varied plastic art. We believe that more issues can contribute to more knowledge and a more insightful commitment, says one of the authors, Moa Petersén, researcher at the Department of Arts and Cultural Sciences at Lund University.
Read the full article (In Swedish) at lu.se.
