“There’s a striking contradiction between the collective beauty of these images and the reality that they represent,” explained Island fine art photographer Zoe Barker.
Examples of her latest work, currently on show at Quay Arts in Newport as part of The Ryde Art Collective 2026 Exhibition until Saturday 7th November 2026, can now be seen in Re:Box, the phone box gallery on Lind Street in Ryde.
Finding 100 fragments on Ryde beach
Since August 2023, Zoe has been timing how long it takes to find 100 fragments of rubbish on the beach in Ryde. She then arranges and photographs each collection of 100 found objects on a black circular tray. The images take their titles from the amount of time necessary to collect each set of 100.
The record to date is four minutes and six seconds, which equates to finding one piece of discarded, primarily plastic, rubbish on the beach every 2.46 seconds. Each piece, no matter how small, tells a story, but when carefully curated alongside others reveals a staggering environmental crisis unfolding in our oceans.
‘Question our own patterns of consumption’
Zoe said,
“The images starkly illustrate the very real impact of uncontrolled consumerism. I hope they compel us to question our own patterns of consumption and to reflect on what ultimately becomes of the items we so readily discard.”
First time in Re:Box
Along with writer Anmarie Bowler, Zoe curates Re:Box, an engaging public art space that regularly features work from local artists 6 to 8 times a year. This is the first time her own work has appeared in Re:Box. Anmarie explained,
“We’ve always showcased compelling pieces from Island artists, aware that we might one day install Zoe’s work in the phone box.
“While on exhibit at Quay Arts, this seemed like the perfect time to allow passersby to see the beautiful but ultimately shocking images she’s created.”
About Re:Box
Re:Box is Ryde’s smallest art gallery sited in a classic Kiosk No.6 red phone box on Lind Street.
Through BT’s ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ initiative, Ryde Town Council purchased the box for £1, turning it over to Anmarie Bowler and Zoe Barker, a pair of local artists determined to give the decommissioned piece of street furniture a new lease of life.
Lit from the inside, when night falls Re:Box transforms into a lightbox that creates the impression of glowing stained glass.
If you create interesting work and want to ‘think inside the box,’ contact Re:Box at [email protected] or via ReBoxRyde on Facebook.
News shared by Anmarie on behalf of Re:Box. Ed
