Written by Helena Hudson, Photography by Mila Donnez-Barnard
WeShine Portsmouth, an annual event organised by Portsmouth Creates, took place between the 17th and the 19th of November. This year's displays had a particular focus on the environment and consequences of polluting the oceans.
Most of the displays were found in Victoria Park. My personal favourite was ‘Unfurl’; an exhibit made up of vibrant coloured air giants, archways and toadstools which were able to flex and move, much to the delight of young children.
Photography by Mila Donnez-Barnard
Additionally, throughout the park there were colourful displays of bugs such as snails, butterflies, and bees which formed part of ‘Buzz! Buzz! Flutter! Flutter!’
Photography by Mila Donnez-Barnard
Further along was the beautiful exhibit ‘Mrs Blossom Makes’, inspired by fairies and elves, which comprised of miniature doors handmade by children from across all of Portsmouth- and, of course, a disco ball above the display to add that extra magic.
Also spread out across the main path were small brown wardrobes which, if you looked through them, would show images from Portsmouth’s past- appropriately titled ‘Memory Imaginaires’.
Photography by Mila Donnez-Barnard
As mentioned earlier, a large focus of the festival concentrated on pollution of the oceans, with a variety of exhibits showcasing this issue. ‘Bottle in the Ocean’ was an interactive exhibit which involved shining a torch onto the wall to reveal a variety of sea creatures surrounded in plastic. As well as this, a video display on the outside of Astoria entitled ‘On Plastics’ highlighted the issues surrounding plastics in the oceans.
Overall, the event was stunning and is definitely worth a visit in the future.
Photography by Mila Donnez-Barnard
About the Contributors: Helena Hudson
I’m a second year Law with International Relations student :-)
Mila Donnez-Barnard
Find Mila on Instagram here!
(This piece was edited by Amber Turner-Brightman)
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