Amy Flynn: Technofossils : II

Technofossils : II
Amy Flynn

MATERIALS:  Pewter, Glass Crystals

Technofossils are human-made objects and materials that will persist in the geological record for millions of years. The monstrous amount of stuff we make and discard is creating a distinct new layer in the Earth’s crust.

Everyday ephemera is piling up beneath our feet, this installation presents a horrifying glimpse into the future, one where our collective waste has begun to seep through cracks in the earth, rising to the surface and permeating the framework of the Village. The old stables, a surviving structure from Port Sunlight’s industrial past, lies encrusted in a synthetic assemblage of Technofossils.

Amy’s pewter cast sculptures are deliberately alluring at first glance, sparkling gemstones and shiny metal entice the viewer in. Only on closer inspection are the contours of outdated mobile phones and plastic food containers revealed; rubbish masquerading as treasure. This journey through desire and disgust mimics the cycle of consumerism. Numerous themes of duality are at play here: artificial/organic, worthless/precious, temporary/permanent, growth/decay.

This commissioned artwork draws on Amy’s practice as a jeweller with a strong focus on materiality and handcraft. Formed by casting waste artefacts in sand, her fabricated Technofossils are tactile by their very nature. Their composition, inspired by growth forms of Lichen, responds to this site, evoking the qualities of a living organism.

Amy invites the public to experience this artwork through touch, please be gentle when doing so. This piece is part of a series, with another work exhibited in St Luke’s Bombed Out Church, Liverpool.

@drippedgoods

Port Sunlight was declared a conservation area in 1978. It contains more than 900 Grade II listed buildings in 130 acres of parkland and gardens. It is also home to a thriving community and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. It is important to strike a balance between the past and the present, which is where Port Sunlight Village Trust comes in.

Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) is an independent charitable trust responsible for preserving and promoting the village. Set up by Unilever in 1999, the Trust works with Port Sunlight’s residents to create a self-sustaining village for all who live, visit and work here.