Artist Feature: Thirza Schaap
Thirza Schaap is a photographer exploring new art forms through her Plastic Ocean project. She lives and works in Amsterdam and Cape Town, South Africa. She premiered the series in a solo exhibition in 2018 at Christie’s in collaboration with Colette Olof’s O Wonder. In Cape Town, she collaborated with Greenpeace Africa. In 2021 she published her first book, Plastic Ocean and is now represented by Bildhalle gallery in Zürich and Amsterdam.
Plastic Ocean series combines sculpture and photography to examine our changing relationship with plastics and their overwhelming presence within society today. The images provide a clash between worlds, offering minimal and aesthetically pleasing compositions that instil a sense of ecological grief, asking questions about consumption, idolatry, and that which we value in our lives today.
“Plastic Ocean is a project which I started to create awareness around pollution, to try and prevent (or at least reduce) the use of plastic. In making sculptures out of the objects I find, I try to evoke an emotional response from my audience by creating a contradiction. A clash between attraction and repulsion. Initially there’s an aesthetic appeal, but after a second look: the realisation of the immense tragedy caused by plastic waste. Our beaches are covered in plastic confetti and there really is nothing to celebrate.”
Photography by Thirza Schaap
Q: Can you share something you've learned from creating this body of work that would resonate with our community?
TS: I have learned that I could use my femininity on one side and the feministic person I grew up to be on the other side. Working on the project Plastic Ocean I started to use both to reinforce the message I wanted to tell. Creating pieces that are often characterised by feminine qualities, like sensitivity, sweetness and warmth, where on closer inspection, in stil a sense of ecological grief, asking questions about consumption, idolatry, and that which we value in our lives today.
Q: Tell us about your work process! Do you plan your images ahead or are you more improvisational?
SL: I have three working methods: Working with only the ocean plastic I find that day on the beach, so a true catch of the day. Working from an idea like in Waterlilies too; I once found a bottle upside down floating and it occurred to me that the bottom of the bottle has a flowery shape. I collected 74 bottles on the way to the beach in a few days, I attached them together and filled them halfway with water to have the right buoyancy to float. Working like the surrealists called it ‘écriture automatique’, automatic writing where the hand does its own thing. I put on ‘sculpture automatique’. Pure intuitive works, I fit the pieces of ocean plastic together like a puzzle with an unknown outcome.
Photography by Thirza Schaap
Q: What types of expectations for artists are most challenging to you today?
TS: Spending time in South Africa I learned that we in Europe are enormously spoiled and have so many chances and possibilities. I learned from SA that you can be happy with every little achievement and thing you have away from materialism and away from expectations in any field.
Q: What does being a feminist mean to you?
TS: I was lucky to be born in The Netherlands in a modern family where a girl was the same as a boy. Growing up and meeting people from all different backgrounds, I realised that it was rather special then common to feel that free. I often have talks with young women and motivate them to follow their dream in SA, but also in The Netherlands. I think being a feminist means independence and freedom. I believe that makes people happy.
Q: Do you have any upcoming events, exhibitions, or news you'd like to share?
TS: Unseen Amsterdam in the Netherlands from the 17-19th of September, an amazing art fair where I am represented by Bildhalle Zürich/Amsterdam.
Photography by Thirza Schaap
Follow @thirzaschaap and view more at plastic-ocean.net
