About Connecting Tides

Plastic waste connects us all

Each year, an estimated 5 to 13 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans, threatening all marine ecosystems. Wind and ocean currents spread this debris globally, making it nearly impossible to visit any beach without encountering human-made waste. This highlights the interconnectedness of our world through currents, with even remote places affected by global influences and the extent of human impact on the environment. Any solutions require a similar global perspectives.

Goal

The primary aim of our Studio Kura residency is to create a connected series of artworks using plastic debris collected from Kyushu’s shores. Through these creations, we’ll explore and visualize our complex relationship with nature and waste. By sharing our work and hosting local workshops, we seek to inform, surprise, and offer fresh perspectives on ocean plastic pollution—highlighting how this environmental challenge connects communities worldwide.

Location

Our residency will take place at Studio Kura, in Itoshima, Japan. Located near Fukuoka, close to the coast, it provides ideal access to beaches for collecting materials and data. Kyushu’s location near China and South Korea creates a unique collection point where debris from multiple countries can converge.

Beach visits

During our residency, we will do daily beach cleanups at strategic hotspots known for their high concentration of washed-up debris, based on access and currents. These trips will yield plastic marine debris, which we’ll categorize using standardized OSPAR classifications. This methodology connects our findings with previous collection efforts in the Netherlands and Bonaire, linking these distant locations through shared data. We’ll document additional details—brand identification, language markings, specific beach location, and collection time—providing rich input for our works. While our approach is methodical, we are artists rather than scientists—our goal is to transform environmental observations into compelling visual narratives, not do scientific research.

Synthesis

From our collected materials and data, various works will emerge, forming an integrated artistic statement. Bob will create generative works incorporating collected data, reflecting Kyushu's natural environment and referencing traditional Japanese design elements—visualizing the tension between natural systems and human disruption. Simultaneously, Janet will transform found plastics into marine-inspired sculptures that reveal unexpected beauty in discarded objects while delivering a thoughtful message about consumption and waste.

Throughout the process, we’ll document our activities, materials, and finished works through photography, creating visual stories that will later become the foundation for our project photo book.

Community engagement

We believe environmental art gains power through collective participation. Throughout the residency, we hope to collaborate with local environmental organizations, surf and dive shops, and community members through workshops and presentation. These interactions will inform our work and hopefully educate and inspire, on both sides.

Exhibition & book

The project culminates in a small-scale exhibition at Studio Kura, featuring the created sculptures, art prints, and photographic documentation. Alongside those from other resident artists. Following the residency, we will create a limited-edition photo book to preserve the project's process, findings, and works, allowing the conversation to continue beyond the residency. As the project progresses, we will share more information and ways to get a copy of this book. We are exploring opportunities to showcase our work in additional venues.
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