Do we sink, or do we swim? | Art for Social Change Collective asks questions

The Sink or Swim exhibition sparked connection, reflection and response to our oceans and our environment. The collection of work from Art for Social Change Collective was in Paignton – an ideal spot to consider the topics, tell stories and share some fish and chips.

Aishling Muller, Lottie Bolster, and Agata Nowak of Art for Social Change explain why it was such a good location and the impact of getting together for a collaborative show for themselves and for the visitors

Q: What can you tell us about the Sink or Swim exhibition? 

Sink or Swim was the first multidisciplinary exhibition by the Art for Social Change Collective –  Lottie Bolster, Julie Light, Katherine Masters, Lorrain Mailer, Aishling Muller, Agata Nowak, and Kayleigh Peters. Taking place in Paignton’s Projection Room, the show brought together contemporary art, community participation, and critical dialogue around the urgent issue of ocean conservation. 

As a contemporary, community-engaged exhibition grounded in Torbay, Sink or Swim held both artistic and local significance. Through photography, projections, live performance, glassworks, ceramics, screen prints, Sellotape sculptures, and installation, the show explored themes that were in turn serious, contemplative, and whimsical. Works addressed glacial melt, plastic waste, human consumption, and the deep-time interplay of rock and water. Visitors encountered everything from species samples from the Museum of Lost Potential to ceramics charting the unravelling of coral reefs, and visions of post-human coastal dunes reflecting both human-driven erosion and nature’s enduring resilience. 

One of the exhibition’s anchor works was Lottie Bolster’s installation and performance piece, Tribute to Fish. The piece imagined a fish and chip shop in a world where fish had become extinct. Audiences enjoyed chips eaten out of a fictional newspaper, Yesterday’s Catch, containing stories of the sea, past, present, and future. They were invited to leave tributes to the life lost from the sea, on a growing communal sculpture. Leading up to the event, Lottie who is a local to the area, engaged the community through story-gathering for the newsprint, weaving local voices into the heart of the work. 

The exhibition’s central question – do we sink, or do we swim? – challenged audiences to consider whether we rise to make change and create waves, or whether we allow ourselves to be pulled under by the ongoing current of the environmental crisis. Importantly, the collective sought not to lecture but to spark reflection, offering space for audiences to engage in their own way. 

We were delighted to have SJ Hood from the Marine Conservation Society open the show, grounding the exhibition in the wider urgency of ocean protection. Choosing Paignton as the site of Sink or Swim was deliberate: with its strong seaside culture and rhythms of summer life, the town provided a resonant backdrop for reflection on our relationship with the sea. Also, having Lottie, based in the region added a natural creative link to the place.

Q: Who are Art for Social Change, how did you get together, and what connects the members’ work? 

Art for Social Change has been together since 2021. We have an international reach – with one based in Ireland, one now living in Portugal, and the rest spread across the UK.

We initially connected through an online programme, run by Artquest, during which artists focused on social change shared their work and exchanged feedback. When the programme ended, we just kept meeting! And it continues to be a supportive and nurturing space for us both professionally and personally. 

As individual artists we each address a variety of social and political themes including works related to environment, climate and health. We are united by a sense of ethics and a desire to nurture change through offering different perspectives. Our shared passion around such relevant and timely themes is the glue that binds us. And it is the diversity in themes, media and methods which strengthens our collective voice. 

We are about creating a positive space for dialogue, freedom of thought, and reflection. Each member brings their unique skills and expression – whether artistic, technical, or organisational – and those differences have been crucial both in keeping us going online and in pulling this exhibition together.  

Q: How important was Sink or Swim in connecting the artists as well as the audience? Did showing the work physically add to its impact? 

When Lottie suggested the possibility of exhibiting in Paignton, it lit a fire under us and we started developing the vision that would later emerge as Sink or Swim. We also realised how much we wanted to step into a physical space together and deepen our experience with each other after meeting online for so long. It was a hugely important step for us. 

Preparing for the exhibition was significant in bringing us together. We have such a range of skills in the group – a graphic designer, audiovisual media skills, members with experience working with venues and children, members good at admin, social media, and logistics. Everyone contributed. On-site, five of the seven artists were present with the other two very much there in spirit. It was powerful to finally share our voices in a room, to blend them into something collective. The way we arranged and rearranged the room together, making sure the flow felt right, was such an organic, enjoyable, and collaborative process. This experience has surely strengthened our little family of artists.

In terms of connecting with our visitors, our opening was well attended with a diverse audience spanning all ages and backgrounds - what a fantastic turnout. The atmosphere was warm and full of energy. People were chatting in front of the projection, eating their chips (the fish was gone), reading the many local views in the latest edition of Yesterday’s Catch, engaging with us and each other. Over the following days, people kept drifting in. 

Visitors responded warmly in the guestbook, often noting the exhibition’s power to connect beyond headlines. Judy wrote, “Excellent exhibition to raise awareness… this hit home more than watching the news has, great work thank you,” while Helen echoed, “Fantastic exhibition, well done to all involved. It really brings it home more so than just watching on TV or reading in magazines.” Others highlighted its creativity and thoughtfulness: Iris called it “very thought provoking,” Anna praised it as “a terrifically imaginative presentation of this topical and immensely important issue,” and Emma added, “Thank you for bringing thought provoking art to Devon.”

You’ve asked us if showing the work physically added to the show’s impact… 

The blend of works, the way the space was set up, and the variety of textures made the show truly engaging – something that just couldn’t have happened online. With the artists there in person and audiences eager to explore, conversations that unfolded were rich and memorable. It seemed that people were visibly moved, intrigued and thoughtful. This confirmed for us that the show was solid, that it evoked genuine emotional responses. And that combination of effort, energy, and audience reaction made the whole experience incredibly worthwhile. 

And for anyone who missed it, you can still keep up with us through our Art for Social Change Instagram and Facebook pages. We’re currently sorting through photos and video footage from the show, and we’ll be sharing more soon. 

We are grateful to all who supported Sink or Swim, from the Projection Room and the Marine Conservation Society to Paignton Pier Chippy Co. The warmth of Paignton’s welcome made the experience especially memorable.

For many of us, visiting Devon for the first time was truly special – and we look forward to sharing more work that continues this dialogue between art, community, and the sea.

top image: Lottie Bolster – Tribute to fish. Courtesy of Aishling Muller.