People have been wild about plastic for decades and it is a necessary material for many things, but we are also drowning in plastic waste. The exhibition of the National Museum of Finland from 6 November 2018 to 6 January 2019 looks through the use and consumption of plastic over the course of decades and reminds people about how the recycling and reuse of plastic can solve many problems. The exhibition is based on a project by the National Museum of Finland and the Picture Collections of the Finnish Heritage Agency with themes of plastic and the resulting environmental issues. Admission to the exhibition is free.
The exhibition PLASTIC reviews the topical and global environmental discussion about plastic. At the beginning, plastic undeniably created opportunities and inspiration. It was truly a material for the modern age. However, already in the late 1960s, environmental awareness began to rise. Now landfills have filled up, and the vortexes of waste in the oceans have grown inconceivably vast. The problems created by plastic waste are a part of the modern day life that is documented by the National Museum of Finland. However, PLASTIC does not only focus on the problems. The exhibition also takes visitors on a journey with the people picking up trash in Hanko, follows the path of plastic trash to reuse as a raw material for industry and acquires items for the collections depicting the different sides of the phenomenon.
The exhibition shows both faces of plastic, side by side; the opportunities and the major problems. Plastic items from the collections of the National Museum of Finland over the decades are on display. Objects that used to wow us because they were so light, colourful and easy to care for. When the exhibition reaches the present time, criticism of consumption enters the picture; the items exhibited include a gown worn at the Presidential Palace made out of plastic bottles collected from the oceans. The objects show new kinds of experimentation and innovation, such as fishing nets turned into underwear and dish brushes made out of recycled plastic. Items selected for the exhibition also include objects whose life cycle is already nearing its end. Among other things, a fleece sweater containing microplastics and shoes about to disintegrate that cannot be rescued by even the most skilled conservator have earned their place in the exhibition, too. Objects leave the cycle, but we still do not know everything about the preservation of plastic as a material.
The exhibition PLASTIC is open from 6 November 2018 to 6 January 2019. Free entry.
For more information, please contact:
Chief Intendant Sanna Teittinen, [email protected], tel. +358 295 33 6394
Curator Anna-Mari Immonen, [email protected], tel. +358 295 33 6433
Media images:
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINLAND
Mannerheimintie 34, Helsinki
Open Tue, Thu–Sun from 11 am to 6 pm, Wed 11 am to 8 pm, closed Mon
http://www.kansallismuseo.fi
The National Museum of Finland includes seven museums and two castles: National Museum of Finland, Maritime Museum of Finland, Langinkoski, Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, Tamminiemi, Hvitträsk, Louhisaari Manor, as well as Häme Castle and Olavinlinna Castle.
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