30 Fragments
Tim Laing, Alastair & Fleur Mackie
Official Selection
π€ Short: Documentary, Documentation, Experimental
βProducing an environmental artwork is one thing; but having the vision to document it and its construction, in such a way that it reaches new audiences, in a format which allows for the spotlighting of the very themes that inspired it, is on another level. The mindful documentation and distribution of eco-focussed art leads to the successful relaying of these vital topics, and ultimately, to renewal.β
Our focus stays by the waterβs edge, this time with the making of a physical artwork by Alastair and Fleur Mackie, sensitively filmed by Tim Laing. 30 Fragments follows the artists as they collect broken plastic fishing floats from a stretch of Atlantic coastline. Caught in the boulder section of a beach near their home in Cornwall, these fragments have been driven into the rock matrix, where they continue their slow absorption into the wider coastal system. Using rudimentary hand tools, the artists recover the plastic on spring low tides, working methodically to clear the site. The film captures this process as they move through the natural landscape β uncovering the quiet collision between the synthetic and the organic, and reflecting the deeper contradictions in how we perceive, value, and inhabit such spaces today.
These fragments are assembled into a mobile sculpture that moves gently in response to air currents. The piece references the kinetic art movement, while remaining rooted in an act of environmental stewardship. The artists will continue making these works until the beach is free of debris.
Originally created for Blue: Art for the Oceans β a charity auction supporting Blue Marine Foundation β 30 Fragments quietly reflects on the long-term impact of marine plastic, not through data or polemic, but through gentle care and attention. Repair does not have to begin with grand gestures, but can start with small acts of conscience.
Alastair & Fleur Mackie met at art school in London in the β90s, and over time their work has evolved into a collaboration. In 2011, they moved to North Cornwall, the landscape of which has played a central part in shaping their vocabulary. Typically constructed from diligently sourced objects, their works possess a cyclical quality β building a dialogue with the circumstances of their origins, sparking connections across time and space, offering commentary on the intersection of ecology and anthropology.
Laing is a filmmaker based in North Cornwall who creates immersive stories giving voice to people who are often unheard. With a background as a freelance illustrator, he brings strong visual language and subtlety to his films, and he composes all of the music for his own work.
Director: Tim Laing
Key cast: Alastair & Fleur Mackie
Courtesy of the artists