Considering the enormous trash that we keep piling on, it’s really good that recycling is fast developing into a trend nowadays. It becomes relatively better when a nation intends to fight this menace collectively. Consequently, the US, at New York, celebrates the purpose in continuing the three-years-old tradition of glorifying recycled art. The event, dubbed the Figment Festival, was held at the New York’s Governors Island this weekend, June 12-14.
• Project: Stir Up
Artist: Mollyne Karnofsky
Details: The kinetic wire sculpture comes with an upward range. It makes use of recycled plastic bottles to form a snake-like creation. Along with it, other materials such as plastic, paint and other mixed media have been made use of.
Location: City of Dreams
• Project: Ema 絵馬 of Hope
Artist: ShiZaru_zoe
Details: Japanese tradition finds an outlet via Ema, a votive tablet meant for inscribing hopes and then designing it onto his plaque. It’s truly innovative! I The resulting sculpture goes on to project an exciting blend of individual desires.
Location: Colonels Row
• Project: Watershed
Artist: Disorient / MSLK
Details: “Watershed” is a synthetic forest of 1,500 plastic water bottles. “Watershed” urges the viewers to shun the habit of buying bottled water. Falling back on tap water is much more sensible.
Location: Parade Ground
• Project: Secret of 101
Artist: Chin Chih Yang
Details: Chin Chih Yang’s “123PollutionSolution” project transforms thousands of used aluminum cans into a vibrant landscape imitating a varied topography. The sculptural form represents an imaginary outer space village as a safe haven from the polluted Earth. Quite interestingly, the project invites the audience to add cans to the recycled landscape.
Location: Colonels Row
• Project: Galaxy, 2009
Artist: Randy Polumbo
Details: This unique craftsmanship makes use of recycled machine parts, sports objects, toys and reconstituted found objects from swap meets, rubber chickens, eight balls and bowling balls mounted on a steel armature. In a way, it is an expression of the ideas of transformation.
Location: Colonels Row
• Project: We care about you
Artist: Fabrice Covelli
Details: The project displays human actions and the reaction to restore normalcy. A spherical object slowly deflates and requires help from viewers to re-inject air and re-shape it. It is highly symbolic of our planet and the human activities hell-bent to deform it!
Location: Building 114 – Second Floor
• Project: reCYCLE
Artist: Katerina Usvitsky
Details: Katerina retrofits a vintage 1960s bicycle. Netting it through and through with yarn, she aims to announce this art-making technique which has been passed down through many generations — yet another example of recycling. It is both empowering and meditative, much like bike riding.
Location: Parade Ground
• Project: #5
Artist: Prototype
Details: The sculpture utilizes trashed cups that otherwise being non-biodegradable keep on polluting the environment. This work of art is beautiful, simple and aesthetically gripping. To me, it seems, it is the sorry plight of the planet in microcosm.
Location: Colonels Row
• Project: Guns & Poses Rosebush Garden installation
Artist: Natalie Giugni
Details: Steel, gun catalogs and fashion magazines recycled to make way for “Guns & Poses.” A garden of three large rosebushes calls attention to the fashion photography and firearms based in illusion. Wholly symbolic flowers pay tribute to intrinsically feminine forms.
Location: City of Dreams
• Project: Media Sculpture (Unnamed)
Artist: Carla Aspenberg
Details: The mixed media sculpture is fashioned in fabrics and a recycled television set. It’s a sarcastic representation of our attachment to technology.
Location: Building 114 – First Floor