Swapna Namboodiri Discusses Plastic Art and Aquarium of Tomorrow

Key facts

• Swapna Namboodiri is a self-taught artist originally from southern India, now based in Adelaide for almost three years after living in Doha for around nine years.
• She trained as a software engineer and worked in that field in India for about five years before leaving to pursue art.
• She created the Aquarium of Tomorrow, an immersive installation from thousands of discarded plastic pieces, in collaboration with Bank Australia.
• The installation features marine creatures made from everyday plastic items like toys, utensils, spoons, balls, and bags, including a large shark with a tiny Barbie body underneath.
• Bank Australia redesigned its cards to be made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, with 64 per cent collected from coastal communities by Parley for the Oceans.
• Namboodiri is currently participating in the South Australian Living Artists Festival with three events: an exhibition, artist talks, and workshops.
• She is working on a project for Paper on Skin in Tasmania, made entirely from discarded cardboard from her own packing supplies.
• The article was produced in partnership with Bank Australia, a Certified B Corporation.