Bright Sparks 2

Justin Carter Renewable Devices for Art and Ecology

Exploring the rapidly evolving possibilities of renewable energy, artist Justin Carter creates ambitious proposals for functional sculptures which integrate these new technologies. Justin’s Bright Sparks research concentrates on developing inventions or scenarios which re-think the relationship between supply and demand, such as a solar powered ice-cream van, a wind powered bakery, or lunar powered lighting systems. His ideas are developed for settings where the functional sculptures are able to respond to the physical conditions of geography and climate and provide an interactive experience for people who encounter them, either by proposing ‘solutions’ to environmental problems, or by illuminating key ecological issues.

“I want to develop ‘contraptions’ that will engage with people and hopefully shift our attitude to always wanting more. What Bright Sparks has encouraged me to do is concentrate on the idea, untangling the relationship between research and product, and allowing me the useful opportunity of getting lost along the way.”

Justin is a visual artist whose work deals with the complex relationship between nature and culture, and many of the functional ‘vehicles’ he builds become platforms for addressing environmental issues relating to sustainability. Justin Carter is based in Scotland and is a lecturer in the Sculpture and Environmental Art Department at Glasgow School of Art.