Flip-flop cycle 2022

Flip flops are the most commonly washed up item of clothing on beaches particularly in Africa. They symbolise a culture of disposability but are reused in increasingly positive ways creating jobs and income for families. The damage that flip flops can cause to marine life is an issue with sea mammals caught in the thongs of the flip flops and the release of microplastics into the oceans.

Women in Kenya collect these washed up items and sell them to cooperatives which make useful items, tourist gifts and even boats.

In order to create this piece I approached Oxfam in Oxford to see if they had any spare flip flops and they explained that most donated flip flops are not resaleable and were happy for me to use them.

The sculpture is made of wire mesh with the flip flops attached using cable ties.

It was mounted on a wall in the carpark of the art school and I approached the local secondary school art department regarding a graffiti-style mural to accompany it. This was spray-painted by a sixth form art student but has since had to be painted over due to objections from the local council.

The flip flop map is now installed at the Oxfam Superstore in Oxford.