Penzance’s Jubilee Pool will be transformed into a canvas of light and reflection on Saturday, March 21 for a one-off screening of Being Plastic, a contemporary art film by Cornwall-based artist Andy Hughes.

Held in conjunction with Plastic Free Penzance, this spectacular projection explores the surreal intersection of marine life, human industry and the plastic crisis, asking: how can we look at plastic in a different way? And how can that help us tackle the rising tide of plastic pollution?

Andy Hughes’s work explores the relationship between plastic pollution, photography and the environment. His art has been instrumental in bridging global plastic narratives with local coastal communities for more than 30 years.

Being Plastic is a mesmerising video loop born from Hughes’ residency on Gapado Island, South Korea. Inspired by the eerie, high-intensity glow of offshore squid-fishing boats, Hughes captures how these artificial lights "reverse" the natural world—tricking the sea into reflecting light from its depths.

Using this visual vocabulary of mirroring and shimmering, Hughes reimagines the world through the eyes of the cephalopod, the inside of a plastic beer bottle, and a molten sunset seen through a special edition Ecover Bio-mimicry Ocean Plastic Bottle. By transforming discarded plastic waste, still and moving image footage into "living" video sculptures, Hughes breathes vitality into "lifeless" materials, creating a visual trickery that parallels the very fishing lights that lure sea life to the surface.

The film will be followed by a talk and Q&A with the artist and Rachel Yates, Plastic Free Penzance community lead and plastic pollution campaigns Manager at Surfers Against Sewage.

“Plastic has made its way into the deepest part of the ocean, the highest mountain, the air we breathe, the soil we grow in, the food we eat,” said Rachel. “It’s in our bodies, with research only now just starting to show its effects on human health. Yet plastic production rates soar.

“Plastic entering the ocean looks set to triple by 2040 without concerted effort. By looking at plastic in a different way, and understanding why oil companies and brands are forcing production on us, helps us as communities be part of the solution.”

The evening pairs the film projection with Transparent Tide, a collaborative celebration of local environmental activism. Created with the Penzance community and live at the Jubilee Pool since February, Transparent Tide is an art project that transforms local plastic waste into delicate photographic media, highlighting both the beauty and the fragility of our coastal ecosystems. Artwork from special guest Captain Ban Plastic will also be on display.

Opened in May 1935, Jubilee Pool is the UK's largest seawater lido and one of the few remaining Art Deco lidos in the country. Chief operating officer Giles Gould said: “We are excited to be able to help raise awareness of ocean plastic pollution within our local community.”

The event will run from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Tickets cost £10 per person and should be booked via EventBrite. The café will be open for drinks and snacks.