Hunter-Gatherer in the Anthropocene
Conscious Innovation Projects
This body of work presents a speculative narrative of a ‘Hunter-Gatherer in the Anthropocene’. The huntergatherer is a character acutely attuned to the materials and resources available in their surroundings – developing highly specialised skills and techniques for survival. The artefacts consist of a kayak, paddle, clothing, gathering bag, tools and cultural objects, all created using recycled plastics and other waste materials. These objects echo and honour ancient traditions of mankind and respond to the unique threats posed by the ‘world of the Anthropocene’. They address three disconnects that characterise this epoch: – An abundance of waste materials that exist outside of natural ecosystems; – The loss of practical resourcefulness caused by over-dependency on technology; – Loss of cultural narratives caused by the global standardisation of our material world and homogenised archeologies. Storytelling and making gives plastics and other manmade materials a voice, challenging us to question preconceptions, re-engage with our material world and acknowledge our responsibility. Drawing parallels between the qualities of natural materials like seal skins traditionally used by Inuit kayak builders and manmade materials such as HDPE milk bottles, means materials assume new meaning and significance. Can plastic be re-imagined as a material with a cultural value corresponding to it’s physical durability – embedded with stories, knowledge and a craft equivalent to those cultivated around natural materials? This project will culminate in a journey. The kayak is a research vehicle with which to navigate the waterways of the UK, engaging with schools and cultural centres, holding workshops to provoke discussions around these vital issues. Questioning definitions of ‘waste’, by demonstrating the potential in materials of the Anthropocene and power of human resourcefulness, contributes to the broader narrative of how we create a sustainable future together.