Mandy Barker. The photographer of marine plastic waste

© Dani Codina

For the past fifteen years, Mandy Barker has devoted herself entirely to documenting plastic pollution in the oceans and seas. Her work has been exhibited in some of the world’s foremost museums – such as MoMA in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London – and featured in publications like National Geographic and Time. It highlights the devastating paradox between the beauty of her images and the social critique they express.

Mandy Barker isn’t a rockstar photographer nor does she appear on the list of the world’s most famous visual artists. In person, she comes across as shy and takes a moment to warm up. But when she does, she overflows with enthusiasm, and it’s clear she is a woman deeply committed to her work: raising awareness, through photography, of the harmful impact of plastics when they reach the sea. Her tireless photographic work, honoured with awards across the globe, reflects her dedication to the oceans and the devastating effects plastic is having on marine life.

This woman, who has loved the sea for as long as she can remember, arrived in Barcelona as the final stop of the exhibition Oceans. From Renoir to microplastics, that has attracted a huge number of visitors to the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona. So much so that it had to be extended until mid-September. More than two hundred thousand people have engaged with this compelling reflection on the harmful effects of excessive plastic waste dumped in the sea. “I came to Barcelona eight years ago and left with many things still to see, but this time I’ve been able to experience it more fully”, she shares by way of introduction. The next question is inevitable: have you been to the beach? “Of course! I went with a group of children to collect plastics, and together we created artworks similar to mine. It was an interesting immersive experience for these young people”.

The exhibition Oceans: From Renoir to Microplastics was held at the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona, as part of the Cultural Regatta that accompanied the celebration of the America’s Cup in Barcelona. © Dani Codina The exhibition Oceans: From Renoir to Microplastics was held at the Diocesan Museum of Barcelona, as part of the Cultural Regatta that accompanied the celebration of the America’s Cup in Barcelona. © Dani Codina

It is a highly rewarding job because Barcelona, situated on the Mediterranean, is not oblivious to a reality: the sea, a “semi-enclosed” area, is especially sensitive to the presence of plastic waste. “In 2005, the ecologist Boyan Slat dived to the bottom of the Mediterranean and discovered hundreds of bottles. This discovery led to extensive research on plastic and raised awareness of how polluted the Mediterranean was,”, Barker explains, providing context for her immense work, which straddles the line between artistic beauty and an effort to raise collective awareness.

Between beauty and critique

But let’s break it down to understand Mandy Barker’s story. Born in 1964, she graduated from De Montfort University in England with a Master’s Degree in Photography. Shortly after, she began researching plastic waste in the sea, which led her to collaborate with the scientific community. “I started fifteen years ago on the beach near my hometown in the UK, collecting driftwood and shells – natural items. Then, when I returned a few years later, I found computers, television screens and large plastic objects washed up on my beach”, she recalls. “I wanted people who don’t live near the sea to know what was happening”, she adds. The backdrop is alarming: 90% of marine debris found on coastlines worldwide is related to plastics. “It is known that eleven different species of seabirds ingest plastic”, she emphasises.

Her work maintains a delicate balance between beauty and critique, and no one is better suited to define it precisely than she is. “It’s a contemporary approach to portraying a contemporary climate change issue. I take objects I find on the shore, remove them from their context, bring them into the studio, and photograph them against a black background so they stand out and draw people’s attention. When they feel intrigued, they read the caption and realise what I’m depicting, which allows them to feel the impact of what it truly is”, she explains. This clever emotional mechanism engages viewers and informs them about what’s happening in the sea. “I use Photoshop to bring the images together, but there’s no manipulation or alteration of the colours or movements. It’s simply about combining them, because I like to think that where they randomly fall, I’m somehow recreating the ocean”, she remarks.

A disturbing contradiction lies between the beauty of the images and the pain they convey. For example, there are 52 million tonnes of polyester tableware that end up in Hong Kong’s landfills every single day (yes, every day). Then there’s the stunning composition made from 24 footballs collected from various beaches around the world. Any object pulled from the sea is eligible to be photographed if it contains plastic – an Epson T0782 ink cartridge, a McDonald’s Happy Meal box, a Nestlé formula milk spoon, a toothbrush or colourful balloons from a children’s party. “Yes, it’s a contradiction. It’s aesthetic beauty mixed with the horror of reality to draw people in. I show them the beautiful, and then I deliver a ‘stab in the back’ – a complete shock regarding what it really represents”, she explains. “People have cried at my exhibitions because they are shocked by the number of different objects they encounter. We all know that plastic bottles and bags are harmful, but when the audience realises that what I’m showcasing comes from the stomachs of marine creatures, that’s when they feel devastated”, she insists.

It’s hard to ask Mandy Barker which of her photographs is her favourite, as it’s almost like asking a mother to choose her favourite child. However, when faced with the challenge, she rises to the occasion. “I have several favourites, but one series that particularly resonates with me is Still (FFS), as it was my first project focused on nature, and it had a significant impact”, she begins. “Previously, I had shown plastic itself, but that didn’t reveal the marine creature affected. I didn’t want to depict the bird cut open, with all the objects inside”, she explains. This is why the success of this series, to which she feels a deep devotion, stems from the fact that people find it hard to believe that these birds have so much plastic inside them. She presents this in a compelling mix of graphic and scientific information. “It’s an excellent way to show how plastic impacts animals”, she adds with satisfaction.

Art and activism

What role do you think artists play in environmental activism? “It’s incredibly important for driving change. I believe art can be very powerful because most people don’t engage deeply with scientific research, and we can help fill that gap to raise awareness”, she says with enthusiasm. “If we as artists can create art that informs and educates, then we are contributing positively to generating change and inspiring action”, she emphasises.

So the next question is inevitable: what impact do you hope your work will have? “I simply want people to see it and realise that the plastic objects they use at home, from a toothbrush to a printer cartridge, could end up in the stomach of a bird or a seal. But, more importantly, I want people to understand that all these plastics start out as larger items and then break down into tiny microplastics, which are now in our blood and organs. I believe that as humans, we will face serious problems in the future with plastics inside our bodies”, the photographer concludes.

For now, Mandy Barker has no plans to lower her guard. Her exhibitions, both unsettling and undeniably beautiful, continue to tour the world, drawing attention to the dangers of plastic waste in the sea. But she’s already working on her next challenge. “My latest project is focused on fast fashion – all this cheaply produced clothing, made from plastic, that people wear once or twice and then throw away”, she explains. “We’re no longer finding seaweed or natural things in the water; we’re finding clothes”.

Recommended publications

  • Altered ocean Overlapse, 2019

The newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with Barcelona Metròpolis' new developments