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6 Artists That Use Recycled Materials In Their Work
When you’re done with your newspapers, paper-based packaging, or shopping bags, what do you do? Have you ever wondered what a used shopping bag or newspaper could be used for besides recycling? It is more crucial than ever that we all contribute to the environment given the current climate disaster we are experiencing. That doesn’t have to be a routine task in your day-to-day life, though.
Here are 6 artists who have created new, inventive methods to use and recycle things to create something fresh and imaginative.
1. Chie Hitotsuyama
Another illustration of how waste paper may be used to create art is by the artist Chie Hitotsuyama. The Japanese artist creates life-size, realistic animal sculptures using discarded daily newspapers.
Her creation procedure is quite similar to that of the papier-mâché craft made from paper and PVA. Based on the hue of the ink on the page, she meticulously chooses the particular pages and chunks of newspaper. She wets each sheet, rolls it by hand, and then glues it into place. The subsequent processes are pretty messy. Her largest sculptures can take three months to complete.
She has developed a variety of species and animals using this adaptable technology, including gorillas, turtles, and walruses.
plus a tonne more. But why did she choose paper as her medium? She may have previously been connected to the paper industry genetically due to her upbringing in a family that owned a paper mill. According to her, “A piece of newspaper is fragile, and the existence of animals is vulnerable, but I feel the strength in them,” [1]
These paper-based works of art are displayed on her website.
Also Like:-12 Creative Upcycling Ideas to Reduce Waste
2. Yuken Teruya
Yuken Teruya is a contemporary Japanese artist celebrated for his thought-provoking and environmentally conscious art installations. He is best known for his intricate sculptures and installations crafted from everyday objects, particularly from recycled materials such as used shopping bags and cardboard.
One of Teruya’s notable series involves transforming fast-food restaurant bags, such as those from McDonald’s, into delicate and visually captivating tree sculptures. By meticulously cutting and shaping the bags, he creates miniature trees that appear to grow out of the bags themselves, symbolizing the coexistence of nature and consumerism.
Teruya’s work often conveys a message about the impact of consumer culture on the environment, using discarded materials to create art that raises awareness about sustainability and ecological issues. His unique approach to using everyday objects as a medium for artistic expression has earned him recognition and acclaim in the art world.
3. Khalil Chishtee
The majority of us use plastic bags to transport groceries or wrap lunch, but contemporary artist Chistee has made life-size sculptures out of them, specifically recycled bags. Not only is a material that would otherwise be wasted reused, but Chishtee also invents a metaphor for “recycling our identity.” [4]
The creator also wished for the viewer to consider the notion of fine art’s value. Like the fact that spent plastic and other materials can be converted into something of a similar worth to more “valuable” resources like bronze, metals, wood, or stone and shouldn’t be discarded after a single use.
4. Derek Gores
Derek Gores is a contemporary American artist known for his distinctive collage portraits that blend recycled magazines, maps, and other printed materials. He is recognized for his unique approach to collage art, which involves meticulously layering and arranging various paper fragments to create stunning, textured compositions.
Gores’ portraits often feature subjects ranging from celebrities to everyday people, and his technique involves capturing the essence and personality of his subjects through the careful selection and arrangement of the recycled materials. The resulting artworks are visually dynamic and filled with intricate details.
His work has been exhibited in galleries and art fairs across the United States, earning him a reputation as a talented and innovative collage artist. Gores’ approach to using recycled materials in his art not only contributes to sustainability but also adds depth and meaning to his creations, as each piece often carries its own narrative.
5. Tina Berning
Berning developed a love for ancient paper with dates or drawings imprinted on it and started to paint and draw on it. Drawing on found paper implies that you never know what’s going to happen, she claimed in an interview.
For instance, how the media, such as paint or liquid, will respond on the surface; will it bubble or will it absorb well? She added that even when you are “out of control of the situation,” you still need to respond to it. Due to her internet presence, more people have become interested in her work, and her modest business as a working artist is gradually expanding.
6. Von Wong
As we all know, one of the largest environmental issues facing this generation is plastic waste. Plastic shopping bags made up 3% of beach litter between 2013 and 2019, compared to paper bags at 0.2%. [5]
In order to draw attention to the widespread usage of single-use plastics, artist Von Wong worked with Zero Waste Saigon, a non-profit organisation. Over 168,000 plastic straws and other recycled plastic packaging, gathered by volunteers from Vietnam’s local streets, were used to build the installation shown above. [6]
Wong claimed that by inciting a “strawpocolypse,” he hoped to persuade individuals to refuse their next straw. The big structure was designed to be in this location so that anyone passing by would be forced to pay attention to it rather than simply missing it. Along with gathering trash from the streets, he and his team spent more than six months gathering straws for their ten-foot-tall creation.
Not only do artists use recycled materials to create, but 74% of Europe’s waste is currently recycled. In Europe, paper is recycled on average 3.5 times per year. Paper cannot be recycled indefinitely because the fibres get too short and worn out to be employed in the production of new paper. Thus, the cycle requires new tree fibres to continue. These new fibres complete the circle by coming from replenishable, sustainably managed forests.
If viewing the artwork of all these artists has given you creative inspiration, why not visit Love Paper Creations? There, you’ll find a tonne of paper crafts that you can download, print out, and start making.