The idea of breathing new life into objects that are otherwise defunct, turning them into things of beauty and giving them new meaning appeals immensely, not only on an aesthetic level but also to our desire not to waste for waste’s sake. Read on to find out how these artists are turning junk into art.
E Waste Sculptures by Von Wong and Dell
Mau Morgó is a creative director, designer and visual artist focused on creating unique experiences and experimental animation, for brands, festivals and museums around the globe. After working as a designer for award winning studios in Spain he decided to pursue more work at the intersection of art, technology and emotions; exploring new ways of communication between the digital and physical worlds, and to investigate the boundaries between disciplines.
New Domestic Landscape by Mau Morgó
His New Domestic Landscape is a shelter that protects you from your phone and raises consciousness about electronic recycling. After realising the huge mobile phone addiction many people have, and how badly we recycle electronics, Morgó decided to build a huge shelter with all the discarded devices he could find during the course of two weeks searching the streets and dumpsters of one neighbourhood. The inside of his shelter is covered with a special foil that blocks communication, meaning there is absolutely no reception. This means the shelter protects from the abusive use of smart phones and the radiation they emit.
E Waste Sculptures by Von Wong and Dell
Benjamin Von Wong likes to document his adventures and photography. With his hyper-realistic art style, he intends to capture the hearts and minds of viewers with a fusion of special effects and innovative concepts specifically designed to go viral and drive the conversation. Benjamin’s background is in engineering and that gives him a unique edge for creative problem solving, where technical challenges become friendly competition. Fuelled by his passion to connect with people, he has an affinity for sharing engaging stories in novel ways and is currently focused on conservation and social impact projects.
He recently collaborated with Dell, which reached out to recycling partner Winston Green Tech in Dallas, to ask if they could borrow a room and a couple bins of e-waste collected as part of their recycling program. Built with 50 volunteers over the course of 10 days, the Wong-Dell team painted, sorted or screwed piles of defunct electronics to turn 4,100 pounds of e-waste into post-apocalyptic landscapes — E Waste Sculptures.
Computer Component Bugs by Julie Alice Chappell
Artist Julie Alice Chappell multi-disciplinary practice transforms found objects into seemingly organic evolving sculptures. Her current work, Computer Component Bugs incorporate the printed ephemera from inside discarded computers and gadgets. The recycled bits of cultural refuse that are woven throughout her work represent a direct encounter with the excesses of modern living highlighting the dangers of planned obsolescence and e-waste in the environment.