Plasticos Multicolorus – by Denise Frechet

Five years ago, I became aware of the existence of the 7th continent or great Pacific garbage patch. It is a swirling soup of plastic micro particules leading to the intoxication of marine fauna. The impact of plastic pollution is especially important for the survival of albatross. Indeed Albatross are prone to eating plastic debris and feed it to their chicks, because for them, plastic smells like food. Now nearly all Albatross have plastic in their stomach, and their population is sharply decreasing. I decided to make an artwork inspired by this situation: Plasticos Multicolorus.

Plasticos Multicolorus is an installation presented as a Natural History Museum exhibit. It is made up of a bird, the Plasticos Multicolorus, a globe, showing the location of the plastic sea, and a mock press release describing the discovery of the Plasticos Multicolorus, a bird feeding on plastic debris. The Plasticos Multicolorus, is made of plastic bags, plastic bottles, polyurethane foam and hangers. Its size is: 100 cm * 179 cm * 28 cm. It should be hanged and it weights 3 kg. The globe’s diameter is 30 cm, it should be presented on a plinth or a table. The 7th continent is represented on this globe by glued plastic bags, giving us an estimate of the surface of this new continent compared to the ones we already know. The press release is 30 cm * 42 cm.

This installation is made out of plastic garbage and shows ways to recycle this garbage. It also makes us reflect upon the fate of birds: if nothing is done concerning the plastic pollution of the seas, only plastic birds might survive!

Interaction with the public

Workshop with children in Palma de Mallorca: children should pick up plastic waste on the beach and use this material to build a plastic animal (2D or 3D). It should make them aware of the impact of plastic pollution on the marine fauna, and show them how they can use plastic creatively instead of throwing it away.
Action towards passengers of giant cruise ships in Venice: this action could be undertaken with the collaboration of local NGO and volunteers registering for the workshop. A large-scale sculpture would be built using plastic waste near the area where large cruise ships are docking. This sculpture would be used to attract the attention of tourists and provide them information about the impact of plastic pollution.
Public debate in Budapest: I would also like to be part of a public debate including scientists, artists and members of local NGOs about the plastic pollution of the sea and actions that should be taken to reduce this pollution.

Biography

Denise Fréchet was born in Québec in 1949. She lives in Paris and works in Montreuil. She has a dual training in Art and Science. She got a Ph. D. In Biophysics from Strasbourg University in 1980 and studied art at the New York Feminist Art Institute between 1983 and 1986
She exhibited. several times with the Dutch Foundation “Stichting White Cube” : Global Village 2012, 2014 and 2016 (Alkmaar, Zandaam, Abcoude Netherlands, Sully France, Brondby Strand, Denmark, Landshut, Germany), Ecce Homo (Aachen Germany) , Matkalla Onneen 2017( Nokia and Ylivieska, Finland) , Op Weg Naar Geluk 2017 (Alkmaar, Netherlands)
In 2015, she received a fellowship for a 3 months residency in “Da Wang Culture Highland”, Shenzhen, China.This residency was concluded by a solo show : “Snapshots from Wutong”.
She also took part in several exhibitions related to recycling: “Extraordinaires objets de l’ordinaire” (Villa Belleville, Paris, 2017) and “Seconde vie par l’art” (Conseil Général, Nancy, France 2012), “Met’Art Morphoses 4” , Château de Nogent-le Roi, Nogent-le-Roi, France (2012).
Her other exhibitions include a solo show at galerie Delta, Paris, France : “C’est le printemps au Delta ” (2013), several group shows “Eros”, Galerie La Ralentie, Paris, France (2016), ” Villa Hérotique”, galerie à l’écu de France, Viroflay, France (2014)

Artist Statement:

Objects are core elements of Denise Frechet’s vocabulary. By removing them from their original context and displaying them in a work of art, they acquire a different meaning. They are chosen for their strong symbolic charge and combined with other elements, they question the viewer. Denise Frechet gives a second life to recycled material, builds new forms using a variety of techniques: ceramics, fabrics, wood, plaster, paper, glass or metal… She assembles, constructs, deconstructs, her initial idea being in constant dialogue with the material. This interactive process ends when she can give a title to the artwork. Her work tells poetic stories about the desires and contradictions of our time and reveals a sensitivity to nature, environment and contemporary society.

Website: www.denise-frechet.com
Facebook page: @denise.frechet.plasticienne