Helen O'Shea

Multimedia sculptor | Cork, Ireland

Rubbish reborn

Helen uses found plastic to create art
Her forms are inspired by the movements of the sea
Her work highlights the fragility of the planet’s water

Helen O’Shea trained as a textile artist but became increasingly aware of the need to look to alternative materials. She creates delicate futuristic creatures from waste plastics. Her forms are drawn from deep water hydrothermal vents. Through her practice, Helen researches what is happening in our oceans. “We know more about the moon than we know about the deep oceans, so new information about plastics within that environment is being published frequently.” Her works are both stunning pieces of art and calls to become more conscious of our impact on the Earth. The found plastics Helen uses had another life before becoming part of the work, this legacy offers another layer to the finished pieces.

Interview

©Mike Hannon

Where did you train in your craft?: I started at Grennan Mill Craft College and then spent many years teaching in the community. Over the past ten years I have concentrated on my own practice. I attended MTU Crawford College of Art and Design receiving a degree in Contemporary Applied Art Textiles and a Masters of Arts by Research.
How do you start a piece?: I start with collected waste plastic. At the moment I am working with lids of containers. Images from hydrothermal vents inspire the form, coupled with ideas from researching this environment. The materials and ideas build together to grow into a piece.
Why did you choose plastics as your material?: My time in Iceland highlighted how resources can be valued. There, wild berries are highly prized, fish skins are turned into valuable leather. Returning home, I realised that instead of working with a pristine material I could ‘re-value’ something that has been overlooked.
What makes you happy when you share your work?: I enjoy sharing my work with others, talking about the work is an important part of my practice. After I have given a talk or workshop, if I then see someone has been inspired to incorporate a waste material into their work, I feel hugely pleased. Sharing and inspiring others is a great feeling.

Helen O'Shea is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2012