Waste of Space – A Rubbish Exhibition

Bike Tyre Artwork Fiona Campbell. Photo by Morwhenna Woolcock

This week I've been helping out at the Waste of Space Exhibition at the Trinity Arts Centre in Bristol, a rather beautifully converted church.

A WASTEofSPACE is the brainchild of Pete Margerum and Annali Alletha with the vision of having a dedicated space, where traditional “waste” materials can be creatively explored. It’s ALL about waste. How much we throw away, what happens to it and what you can actually make with some of it… and you know how much I love upcycling!

Rubber inner tubes, drinks cans and plastic milk bottles have all taken on a (new) life of their own.  It’s been Fun, Interesting, Inspiring and it’s been hard work. I've really loved being part of it!

I’m not going to bombard you with facts about how long stuff takes to break down as I’m sure you’re aware of that kind of thing and sometimes I feel we can become desensitized to it.

I will share artist Fiona Hobson's work though. Fiona uses plastic bags to share important messages…

What I like most about this kind of exhibition is how it encourages us to look at things differently.

For example..Think about a plastic milk bottle. Then forget, if you will, that it’s used for carrying milk. 

Instead – look at its shape. What does it make you think of?

Look at the material used – it’s actually a nice ‘sandblasted’ sturdy plastic. Can it be cut up into something else?

How can it be given a second, or third or even fourth life?

Could it be a seagull perhaps? OK rather a leap here - but can you see where I'm going with this?

And how about flattened beer cans....

Litter Peckers by Tim Floyd, Fred Plumley & Phil Strainge

And how about rubber inner tubes….could they really be turned into a bird sculpture? Darn toot’in they can….!

So what do you think?

I think ‘Rubbish’ can look pretty darn cool…It takes a little imagination and a new perspective.

Of course reducing the amount we chuck away in the first place is a good place to start and considering our purchases – which all sounds rather serious and so the more fun we can inject into it the better!

What 'rubbish' have you got that you could give a new life to?

Check out some more ideas here...!

Plastic Waste Lights
45 Ideas of How to Recycle Plastic
Olga and her Bottle Top House

Love and Upcycling Adventures!

Morwhenna

xx

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