Whilst on residency in rural Mexico I witnessed the plastic Coca Cola bottle mountains that have rebranded the landscape. During the same trip I spent time with a conservation group monitoring whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico. Combined in print these two memories highlight one of the global issues of today.
This print started life as a mini-print at 20x20cm. As the problem grows so does the print. Reprints have been at 30x30cm and 40x40cm.
I have now printed the largest version yet at 56x76cm. The whale shark remains the same size as the previous edition, but the plastic bottles have multiplied in number with the intention of increasing the impact.
This new edition has also been given a new title – ‘#1 So Why Try Harder’ – a nod to Coca-Cola who repeatedly top the brand audits of the plastic pollution pulled out of our oceans.
This will be my final edition of this print. It is technically challenging due to the scale, tight registration and my failing eyesight. I achieved just one artist proof copy in 2023 before giving up in a hissy fit of frustration. However, with new squeegee and fresh paint in hand and I am now determined to see this one through. Aiming to print just one of these a day during February I will complete the series.
Artwork Detail
#1 So Why Try Harder, 2026
Screen print – 3 colour
Acid-free, 250gsm, Somerset Satin White paper
76cm x 56cm
Limited Edition of 25
Third edition:
Whale Shark in a Coca Cola Sea, 2021
Screen print – 3 colour
Acid-free, 300gsm, Canaletto paper
40cm x 40cm
Limited Edition of 100
Second edition:
Whale Shark in a Coca Cola Sea, 2018
Screen print – 3 colour
Acid-free, 300gsm, Canaletto paper
30cm x 30cm
Limited Edition of 20– SOLD OUT
First edition:
Whale Shark in a Coca Cola Sea, 2016
Screen print – 3 colour
Acid-free, hot-pressed watercolour paper
20cm x 20cm
Limited edition of 10– SOLD OUT