Sustainability First Art Prize

I am very pleased to announce that my artwork 60,000 Last Breaths, created during a live-in residency with Undecided Productions in a rural Vietnamese village in June 2019 was shortlisted to the final 19 of over 1000 applications for the Sustainability First Art Prize. 

Sustainability First said: 
'The corona pandemic is currently affecting every area of peoples’ lives across the globe. As we emerge from the crisis, how do we ensure a sustainable recovery – which balances economic, social and environmental wellbeing? Sustainability First's Art Prize invites original, radical ideas and visions in response to the question ‘How do we build from the current corona crisis towards a more sustainable future?’

Eleanor uses recycled air pollution masks in place of flowers to make six traditional Vietnamese funeral wreaths to raise awareness of the 60,000 air pollution-related deaths per year in Vietnam (WHO, 2018). The piece has taken on new meaning in light of the coronavirus crisis, with the need for protective masks and the reduced pollution levels resulting from global lockdown. Eleanor is a participatory artist and illustrator living in Bristol. She often makes work in collaboration with community groups including older people in care, school children and female refugees. Eleanor completed a BA in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Art and MSc in Sustainable Development in Practice at the University of the West of England.'

The judging panel were:

• Jeremy Till - Head of Central Saint Martins and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of the Arts
• Kate Bryan – Head of Collections, Soho House and Arts Broadcaster
• Tabish Khan – Art Critic, the Londonist and Regulatory Manager, British Gas
• Geraldine Cox – Artist in Residence at Imperial College London
• Sam Gare – Artist and Co-Founder, the Wilderness Art Collective
• Jo de Montgros – Founder, Destination0 and Partner, Everoze
• Phil Barton – Chair, Sustainability First