Campaign against the use of plastic - with Corfu as the background
photographer
24 May 2018
/ 11:57
CORFU. Acclaimed photographer Benjamin Von Wong collaborates with aerial dancer Katerina Soldatou and Greenpeace.
Benjamin Von Wong is an eminent artist and photographer who specializes in hyper realistic photographs which highlight crucial social and environmental issues - creating images that aim to inspire and raise the awareness of the viewer. He uses the power of the image and social media to stimulate dialogue and reflection.
Can you believe it? Of all the places in the world, he chose Corfu for his project – by chance, when he met Katerina Soldatou. Katerina Soldatou is a dancer, teacher of aerial dance and former athlete. Her most recent project was ‘Greece has Soul’, a series of performances in which Katerina Soldatou was suspended by ropes in several locations throughout Greece, such as the Rio Bridge. Corfu is her second home and many of us know her from the breath-taking shows she puts on nearly every summer in which she suspends herself from the most unlikely places. So when she started to organize the project with Ben, the first place that came to her mind was Corfu with its wonderful beaches!
Photography and Dance
How can photography – the art of freezing images – be combined with dance – which is about movement? The message of the campaign, undertaken in collaboration with Greenpeace, is to show how much plastic ends up in the sea – this material that is deadly for all living creatures and for the planet. The central theme is that all the plastic we use in huge amounts on a daily basis ends up in the sea at the end of the day. It is this flow that will be reproduced which, as with all Ben’s photographs, will shock and remain etched on our consciences.
All of his projects are large-scale creations and require the cooperation of a large number of people who, as Ben says, are all volunteers. “It was amazing when I realized how willing people are when you ask them to contribute.” Waste, pollution, volunteerism. Even though it came about by chance, how appropriately topical for this island!
We don’t need to look far
For this particular project 5,000 empty plastic water bottles are needed. A tragic irony for a whole island that lives on water from plastic bottles. “It’s not at all difficult to find them! We also went to the Recycling Centre, but it isn’t in operation..” he said smiling. We also smile – but with bitter smiles.
In the few days that they have been here they have already collected half of that number and have asked people to bring more. He told Enimerosi, “What we most need is plastic packaging, films and bags. Materials that can give the feeling of plastic flowing towards the sea.” We don’t think he’ll have much difficulty there either!
The problem
According to Greenpeace, approximately 4.8 – 12.7 million tons of plastic end up in the sea every year and 1,455 tons of plastic are floating in the Mediterranean. Of the 180,000 – 300,000 tons of plastic packaging produced in Greece every year, only a small amount is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, towns and the sea. Approximately one million plastic cups are used every day in Greece just for coffee. Plastic kills sea animals, harms the marine ecosystem and ends up in the food chain and probably on our plates.
Greenpeace Campaign
Greenpeace representative Alkis Kafetzis told Enimerosi: “Ben and Katerina have been developing this collaborative project for about two and a half years now. Greenpeace joined recently in an effort to create an even bigger impact because this is a global problem that we have been concerned about for many years – both as a Greek and international organization.
“This project ties in nicely with our own efforts to raise people’s awareness of how our addiction to plastic is first of all damaging the environment, but in the final analysis is also doing damage to society. We also forget that it is something that is hugely expensive and in Greece we need to learn to take preventive, not firefighting, measures. In other words, we talk about waste management and recycling, but these do not provide real solutions unless they are combined with a dynamic effort to reduce plastic at its source. This is what we are trying to tell people – not just the consumers, but companies and politicians as well. Consumers make their choices for a reason!”
Further Information
Those who wish can bring plastic bottles and packaging film to the area next to the swimming pool at Gouvia Marina (Kontokali entrance). The following organizations are assisting in this effort: ‘For the Children’, ‘What I Love’ Pre-school Centre and Children’s Creative Recreation Centre, ‘Filia’ Children’s Gym and Lazaris Distillery.
You can also bring empty water bottles (with their caps) in bags and leave them at the following locations:
- ‘What I Love’ Pre-school Centre and Children’s Creative Recreation Centre until 25 May. Alykes Potamos – Tel: 6932 907978
- Lazaris Distillery – Friday 18th or Tuesday 22nd May, Eth. Achilleio Rd. (Opposite Corexpo) – Tel: 26610 80699
The following are also needed:
- Volunteers with vehicles to transport the plastic to Gouvia Marina from various locations.
- Volunteers with boats.
For further information contact:
‘For Our Children’: 6932 907978 / 6978 374212
Can you believe it? Of all the places in the world, he chose Corfu for his project – by chance, when he met Katerina Soldatou. Katerina Soldatou is a dancer, teacher of aerial dance and former athlete. Her most recent project was ‘Greece has Soul’, a series of performances in which Katerina Soldatou was suspended by ropes in several locations throughout Greece, such as the Rio Bridge. Corfu is her second home and many of us know her from the breath-taking shows she puts on nearly every summer in which she suspends herself from the most unlikely places. So when she started to organize the project with Ben, the first place that came to her mind was Corfu with its wonderful beaches!
Photography and Dance
How can photography – the art of freezing images – be combined with dance – which is about movement? The message of the campaign, undertaken in collaboration with Greenpeace, is to show how much plastic ends up in the sea – this material that is deadly for all living creatures and for the planet. The central theme is that all the plastic we use in huge amounts on a daily basis ends up in the sea at the end of the day. It is this flow that will be reproduced which, as with all Ben’s photographs, will shock and remain etched on our consciences.
All of his projects are large-scale creations and require the cooperation of a large number of people who, as Ben says, are all volunteers. “It was amazing when I realized how willing people are when you ask them to contribute.” Waste, pollution, volunteerism. Even though it came about by chance, how appropriately topical for this island!
We don’t need to look far
For this particular project 5,000 empty plastic water bottles are needed. A tragic irony for a whole island that lives on water from plastic bottles. “It’s not at all difficult to find them! We also went to the Recycling Centre, but it isn’t in operation..” he said smiling. We also smile – but with bitter smiles.
In the few days that they have been here they have already collected half of that number and have asked people to bring more. He told Enimerosi, “What we most need is plastic packaging, films and bags. Materials that can give the feeling of plastic flowing towards the sea.” We don’t think he’ll have much difficulty there either!
The problem
According to Greenpeace, approximately 4.8 – 12.7 million tons of plastic end up in the sea every year and 1,455 tons of plastic are floating in the Mediterranean. Of the 180,000 – 300,000 tons of plastic packaging produced in Greece every year, only a small amount is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, towns and the sea. Approximately one million plastic cups are used every day in Greece just for coffee. Plastic kills sea animals, harms the marine ecosystem and ends up in the food chain and probably on our plates.
Greenpeace Campaign
Greenpeace representative Alkis Kafetzis told Enimerosi: “Ben and Katerina have been developing this collaborative project for about two and a half years now. Greenpeace joined recently in an effort to create an even bigger impact because this is a global problem that we have been concerned about for many years – both as a Greek and international organization.
“This project ties in nicely with our own efforts to raise people’s awareness of how our addiction to plastic is first of all damaging the environment, but in the final analysis is also doing damage to society. We also forget that it is something that is hugely expensive and in Greece we need to learn to take preventive, not firefighting, measures. In other words, we talk about waste management and recycling, but these do not provide real solutions unless they are combined with a dynamic effort to reduce plastic at its source. This is what we are trying to tell people – not just the consumers, but companies and politicians as well. Consumers make their choices for a reason!”
Further Information
Those who wish can bring plastic bottles and packaging film to the area next to the swimming pool at Gouvia Marina (Kontokali entrance). The following organizations are assisting in this effort: ‘For the Children’, ‘What I Love’ Pre-school Centre and Children’s Creative Recreation Centre, ‘Filia’ Children’s Gym and Lazaris Distillery.
You can also bring empty water bottles (with their caps) in bags and leave them at the following locations:
- ‘What I Love’ Pre-school Centre and Children’s Creative Recreation Centre until 25 May. Alykes Potamos – Tel: 6932 907978
- Lazaris Distillery – Friday 18th or Tuesday 22nd May, Eth. Achilleio Rd. (Opposite Corexpo) – Tel: 26610 80699
The following are also needed:
- Volunteers with vehicles to transport the plastic to Gouvia Marina from various locations.
- Volunteers with boats.
For further information contact:
‘For Our Children’: 6932 907978 / 6978 374212
