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Plastic Fantastic? audio description: Interactives area - Wakefield Museums and Castles
Plastic Fantastic? audio description: Interactives area
This is part four of the Plastic Fantastic? audio description guide. It covers the interactives area and the fish sculpture by Andy Singleton.
Key object: Fish sculpture, 2024
Key object: Fish sculpture, 2024
Andy Singleton
Plastic phone cases, wood and paper
This large sculpture was commissioned for Earth Day 2024 by Hong Kong phone case maker, Casetify. It was created by Wakefield artist, Andy Singleton using discarded plastic phone cases supplied by the company. The work highlights the impact of plastic pollution on marine life and oceans. It reinforces the importance of recycling and reuse.
The fish is made from around 170 phone cases and is approximately 150 cm long and 70 cm tall. This is a similar size to a 2-seater sofa. From head to tail, it is about the same length as a standard adult bike.
The head, gills and tail of the fish are made from blue and pink paper. The artist has cut and folded curved ribbons of paper and used them to build the shape of the fish. The body of the fish is built from the plastic phones cases. They have been layered in a regular pattern to look like scales. The edges of the cases are all black plastic but they each have different colours and patterns, making the fish technicolour.
Andy Singleton
Plastic phone cases, wood and paper
This large sculpture was commissioned for Earth Day 2024 by Hong Kong phone case maker, Casetify. It was created by Wakefield artist, Andy Singleton using discarded plastic phone cases supplied by the company. The work highlights the impact of plastic pollution on marine life and oceans. It reinforces the importance of recycling and reuse.
The fish is made from around 170 phone cases and is approximately 150 cm long and 70 cm tall. This is a similar size to a 2-seater sofa. From head to tail, it is about the same length as a standard adult bike.
The head, gills and tail of the fish are made from blue and pink paper. The artist has cut and folded curved ribbons of paper and used them to build the shape of the fish. The body of the fish is built from the plastic phones cases. They have been layered in a regular pattern to look like scales. The edges of the cases are all black plastic but they each have different colours and patterns, making the fish technicolour.
Interactives
Interactives introduction and 'separating plastics'
Interactives
There are some hands-on interactives related to the exhibition for you to try in the museum Welcome Space.
A member of our team will be very happy to help you if you need assistance with any of the interactives.
Separating plastics
There are seven main types of plastic. They each have different properties and uses. Some types of plastic are recyclable and others are not.
Plastics get mixed up when they are taken for recycling. Machines sort plastics into their different types. This is because each type of plastic needs to be recycled in a different way.
On the wall behind you to your left as you leave the exhibition gallery, there are three jars fixed to spinners on the wall. The jars all contain microplastics. These are small mixed-up pieces of waste plastic. The coloured microplastics are known as jazz!
Each jar contains a different liquid. The first jar contains water. The second jar contains salt water. And the third jar contains vegetable oil.
You can turn the jars on the dowel. This shakes up the plastic and liquid mixture.
By observing what happens to the plastic when we shake it, we can work out which type of plastic is in each container. Plastics with a lower density than the liquid will float to the top. Plastics with a higher density than the liquid will sink to the bottom.
If the plastic sinks in the water and the salt water, it is either PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) or PVC (Polyvinyl chloride).
If it sinks in water but floats in the salt water, it is PS (Polystyrene).
If it floats in water but sinks in vegetable oil, it is HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) or LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene).
If it floats in water and in vegetable oil, it is PP (Polypropylene).
There are some hands-on interactives related to the exhibition for you to try in the museum Welcome Space.
A member of our team will be very happy to help you if you need assistance with any of the interactives.
Separating plastics
There are seven main types of plastic. They each have different properties and uses. Some types of plastic are recyclable and others are not.
Plastics get mixed up when they are taken for recycling. Machines sort plastics into their different types. This is because each type of plastic needs to be recycled in a different way.
On the wall behind you to your left as you leave the exhibition gallery, there are three jars fixed to spinners on the wall. The jars all contain microplastics. These are small mixed-up pieces of waste plastic. The coloured microplastics are known as jazz!
Each jar contains a different liquid. The first jar contains water. The second jar contains salt water. And the third jar contains vegetable oil.
You can turn the jars on the dowel. This shakes up the plastic and liquid mixture.
By observing what happens to the plastic when we shake it, we can work out which type of plastic is in each container. Plastics with a lower density than the liquid will float to the top. Plastics with a higher density than the liquid will sink to the bottom.
If the plastic sinks in the water and the salt water, it is either PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) or PVC (Polyvinyl chloride).
If it sinks in water but floats in the salt water, it is PS (Polystyrene).
If it floats in water but sinks in vegetable oil, it is HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) or LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene).
If it floats in water and in vegetable oil, it is PP (Polypropylene).
Interactives: fit the facts
Fit the facts
Next to the Separating Plastics interactive, there is a larger wall set slightly back. On this wall, there is a magnetic timeline. It dates from ‘Before the 1800s’ to ‘the 2020s’.
On the small side wall adjacent to the left, there is a container holding magnetic cards that each have a fact about plastics printed on them. Can you match the fact to the date they happened on the timeline?
The answers are coming up - so spoilers ahead!
Before 1800s: Before manmade plastics, natural materials like horn and tortoiseshell are shaped with heat to make useful objects.
Late 1800s: Early manmade plastics copy natural materials to make luxury items.
Early 1900s: Bakelite, the first modern plastic, is invented.
1920s to 1930s: Plastics enter the home in everyday items such as tea sets.
1960s: Plastic food packaging and storage starts to fill our kitchens.
1960s to 1980s: New toys appear made from brightly coloured plastics like PVC.
Early 2000s: Our use of single-use plastic products increases a lot as bottle making gets cheaper.
2020s: Chemists are making plant-based plastics from seaweed, mushrooms and banana skins!
Next to the Separating Plastics interactive, there is a larger wall set slightly back. On this wall, there is a magnetic timeline. It dates from ‘Before the 1800s’ to ‘the 2020s’.
On the small side wall adjacent to the left, there is a container holding magnetic cards that each have a fact about plastics printed on them. Can you match the fact to the date they happened on the timeline?
The answers are coming up - so spoilers ahead!
Before 1800s: Before manmade plastics, natural materials like horn and tortoiseshell are shaped with heat to make useful objects.
Late 1800s: Early manmade plastics copy natural materials to make luxury items.
Early 1900s: Bakelite, the first modern plastic, is invented.
1920s to 1930s: Plastics enter the home in everyday items such as tea sets.
1960s: Plastic food packaging and storage starts to fill our kitchens.
1960s to 1980s: New toys appear made from brightly coloured plastics like PVC.
Early 2000s: Our use of single-use plastic products increases a lot as bottle making gets cheaper.
2020s: Chemists are making plant-based plastics from seaweed, mushrooms and banana skins!
Interactives: sorting station
Sorting station
In front of the magnetic wall, there is a large desk area where you will find containers full of waste plastic packaging.
Can you sort the packaging into their different types of plastic?
Try to find a symbol or label on the packaging that tells you what type of plastic it is. You can often find these as raised numbers, lettering or symbols.
When you have identified the plastic, place the packaging in the matching basket on the desk.
Plastic type 1 is PET or Polyethylene Terephthalate. It is often used for food containers and drinks bottles and is recyclable. Place these plastics in the first basket on the front of the desk.
Plastic type 2 is HDPE or High Density Polyethylene. It is used for milk bottles, cleaning product bottles, shampoo bottles and bottle caps. It can be recycled. Place these plastics in the second basket on the front of the desk.
Plastic type 3 is PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride. It is used for pipes, cables, cling wrap, packaging, toys, and credit cards. It is not always recyclable. Place these plastics in the third basket on the front of the desk.
Plastic type 4 is LDPE or Low Density Polyethylene. It is used for plastic bags, bread bags, shrink wraps and squeeze bottles. You can take these to a supermarket to be recycled. Place these plastics in the first basket on the back of the desk.
Plastic type 5 is PP or Polypropylene. It is often used for yoghurt containers and is recyclable. Place these plastics in the second basket on the back of the desk.
Plastic type 6 is PS or Polystyrene. It is used for plastic utensils, disposable cups, take out containers, styrofoam, and packaging materials. It can be recycled industrially but not in your home recycling. Place these plastics in the third basket on the back of the desk.
In front of the magnetic wall, there is a large desk area where you will find containers full of waste plastic packaging.
Can you sort the packaging into their different types of plastic?
Try to find a symbol or label on the packaging that tells you what type of plastic it is. You can often find these as raised numbers, lettering or symbols.
When you have identified the plastic, place the packaging in the matching basket on the desk.
Plastic type 1 is PET or Polyethylene Terephthalate. It is often used for food containers and drinks bottles and is recyclable. Place these plastics in the first basket on the front of the desk.
Plastic type 2 is HDPE or High Density Polyethylene. It is used for milk bottles, cleaning product bottles, shampoo bottles and bottle caps. It can be recycled. Place these plastics in the second basket on the front of the desk.
Plastic type 3 is PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride. It is used for pipes, cables, cling wrap, packaging, toys, and credit cards. It is not always recyclable. Place these plastics in the third basket on the front of the desk.
Plastic type 4 is LDPE or Low Density Polyethylene. It is used for plastic bags, bread bags, shrink wraps and squeeze bottles. You can take these to a supermarket to be recycled. Place these plastics in the first basket on the back of the desk.
Plastic type 5 is PP or Polypropylene. It is often used for yoghurt containers and is recyclable. Place these plastics in the second basket on the back of the desk.
Plastic type 6 is PS or Polystyrene. It is used for plastic utensils, disposable cups, take out containers, styrofoam, and packaging materials. It can be recycled industrially but not in your home recycling. Place these plastics in the third basket on the back of the desk.
You have reached the end of the Plastic Fantastic? audio description guide. Thank you for listening!