Heidi Stålnacke: The Heartbeat

The artwork describes the heartbeat of the earth, at the same time mirroring the human-nature relationship.

The image surface is made of disposable straws. The material was especially relevant the working process because the EU had finally decided to ban the production disposable straws and also other plastic disposable cutlery. The artist has received material for her works, e.g. from food companies. If the product's packaging breaks in the store, it is no longer sellable.  

Stålnacke is particularly interested in transparent plastic surfaces and how light reflects from them. Plastic is a contradictory material: at the same time distressing and interesting. There is also a hidden ancient light in plastic. The most common raw material for plastic is petroleum. Over a long period of time, oil has been created from prehistoric plants and marine organisms that have been buried under stratified soil. The chemical energy of fossil fuels, such as petroleum, is solar energy collected by the vegetation of the early days of the earth. 

The artwork is not only a comment on the state of the world, but also a call to take better care of our planet.