“The cost of progress” is the name of my artwork that shows an Anthropocentric look the impact of humans on the environment around them and the waste that they generate having consequences resulting in Global Warming.
Specifically in the towns of North Ayrshire where I grew up. This gives me a unique insight into the towns of North Ayrshire, having seen the changes to the areas that have happened in my lifetime.
These works were made using cyanotype, an old photographic technique from the 1800s that produces striking blueprints without the need for a camera. This proses uses UV light (sunlight) and salt and iron chemicals that are better for the environment than other more traditional printing methods.
I chose this process for its environmental benefits and because, as an artist, I consider whether my work adds to consumer waste. Not only from the topic of artwork but also the materials that go into creating it. I also chose this method because of the resulting cyan-blue coloured prints that stand out and have a deeper impact on the viewer.
I created my artwork by taking digital photographs of things that showed the devastating impact of humans. The photograph was made into a negative and printed onto acetate paper. after which I coat recycled paper in cyanotype solutions then expose it to UV light, creating my artwork.
Growing up in small coastal town of North Ayrshire I have seen lots of changes, from the loss of the high streets to the loss of green spaces to build more houses. Thus, destroying biodiverse areas, which contribute to global warming. Witnessing these changes in my own community has deeply affected me and motivated me to produce work that highlights the broader issue—one best understood by examining the local area and its impact on people's dai
