Barely adequate is not enough

A temporary installation of geotextile material, 2017, as part of Edgelands commissions for Art Walk Porty.

Seen from afar, this was a line of orange rocks near the high tide line on the ripraps at Seafield Beach, Edinburgh. Closer inspection revealed the structure of individual rocks covered in a geotextile material, usually used to isolate contaminated ground. I wanted to highlight the recent poor quality of seawater recorded here, waste products from across the city, end up at Seafield, on the edge of the city to be disposed of. This was a proactive message about the quality of seawater we expect for safe recreational use and to demand the highest quality water achievable. Alongside the installation I led several beach cleans, one wheelchair accessible, in collaboration with Surfers Against Sewage.