Plastic Mama is a participatory, performative, and community-based environmental art piece that combines sculpture, costume design, performance, and collaborative creation. At the heart of the work is a massive, Baroque-style plastic skirt that serves as both a visual sculpture and a stage for performance. The piece is not merely an object to be viewed; its meaning is also shaped by public participation, the collection of materials, and the act of creating together. Performing atop the skirt, “Plastic Mama” acts as the work’s performative persona; her speech and presence bring environmental issues into the public sphere, sparking dialogue about climate change, plastic, and consumerism.
Plastic Mama is a participatory and performative artwork commissioned by the Prime Minister’s Office from researcher-artist Kaisa Salmi; it addresses climate change, plastic consumption, and the circular economy.
The centerpiece of the work is a massive Baroque-style skirt crafted from approximately 300 kilograms of household recyclable waste and industrial surplus plastic. The piece was constructed in collaboration with over a thousand schoolchildren, volunteers, and recycling activists.
On July 8, 2019, Plastic Mama was installed at Kansalaistori Square in Helsinki. At the summit of the ten-meter-tall structure, artist Kaisa Salmi delivered a ten-hour performative speech—”Plastic Mama’s Sermon.” The text of the speech was written by author Juha Hurme and artist Kaisa Salmi.
The artistic team also included costume designer Marjatta Nissinen and set designer Markku Pätilä.
About the Artwork
Size and Form
Plastic Mama was a skirt standing approximately ten meters tall, constructed from plastic waste collected by schoolchildren and surplus plastic from industry. The artwork’s impressive size made visible the sheer volume of plastic waste generated and the physical scale our consumption can reach.
Message
The artwork sparked discussion about climate change, the plastic crisis, and consumption habits. Through art and collaborative creation, Plastic Mama brought environmental issues directly into the midst of the city’s residents.
Location and Performance
Plastic Mama was erected at Kansalaistori Square in Helsinki on July 8, 2019. Kaisa Salmi performed and delivered a speech from the top of the structure for ten hours.
Community Involvement
Over a thousand schoolchildren, volunteers, and recycling activists participated in creating the artwork. This collaborative effort was an integral part of the piece: the plastic waste was transformed into a jointly built work of art that brought environmental issues into the public conversation.
Putting plastic back into circulation
Plastic Mama combined art and the circular economy, considering the artwork’s lifecycle as well. After the performance, the plastic material used in the piece was sent for recycling and material recovery.
In this way, the artwork continued its life after the performance—as material returned to the cycle.
Plastic Mama at Kansalaistori Square, Helsinki
8 July 2019, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Schools that participated in the Plastic Mama project
- Helsinki Christian School and Pursi Daycare, Helsinki
- Hiidenkivi Comprehensive School, Helsinki (in collaboration with Central Library Oodi)
- Kaisaniemi Primary School, Helsinki
- Katajanokka Primary School, Helsinki
- Lehtikuusi School, Vantaa
- Meilahti Primary School, Helsinki
- Meilahti Lower Secondary School, Helsinki
- Olari School (Opinmäki), Espoo
- Olari Lower Secondary School, Espoo
- Snellman Primary School, Helsinki
- Töölö Primary School, Helsinki
- Töölö Co-educational School, Helsinki
- Other Plastic Mama events
5 April 2019 – Plastic Mama at Yle’s “I love muovi” (I love plastic) market square event in Tampere
10 April 2019 – Plastic Mama at Yle’s “I love muovi” (I love plastic) market square event in Lahti
13–26 May 2019 – Plastic Mama exhibition and workshop at Harakka Island, Gallery Lennätin
3 June 2019 – Plastic Mama event at the Ministry of the Environment and the Prime Minister’s Office
