Is Art An Exercise In Creative Waste Management Or Does It Contribute Even More To Our Landfill Problems?
, Monday, July 13 2009, 10:22 PM
I am last person on this earth who has anything negative to say about art -- dabbling in right-brained pursuits is deeply entrenched in my bones.
However, being a rabid art student in my former life is no match for my current dedication to a thoroughly green lifestyle, and consequently, I can't help but see things just a little bit differently.
While I appreciate the act of art for "art's sake" and marvel in the creative process, tecnique and materials used, now I automatically ask myself what is going to happen to the piece cleverly crafted out of objects that the rest of us probably would have thrown away.
If it is a truly mesmermizing work of art, I justify that it will probably endure like the scene that Michaelangelo immortalized on the Sistine Chapel -- art galleries will likely want to preserve it for generations to come.
But, what about creations that in the short term are interesting to look at but are perhaps not considered classical expressions of art?
Who wants to venture a guess regarding what will happen to the thousands upon thousands of zipties that were used in Der Dritte Raum -- a brainstorming visualization conceived of by 52 students attending Germany's Akademie der Bildenden Künste München (as seen in these six photos)?
This art installation -- now on display at the Aedes Pfefferberg gallery -- took 17,000 hours to create, and yet as with all good things, it will likely be usurped in favor of a new and improved expression of creativity in the near future.
Do you really think that anyone intends to recycle the zipties used in this project? Are they even made out of a plastic that is recyclable?
Shouldn't artists have a social responsibility to outline what will happen to their creation at the end of its "public life"?
Do you think that for the most part, today's artists are guilty of generating more garbage via their creations?
Are they still helping our environment by temporarily displacing materials out of our landfills and into galleries and museums?
What do you think -- I'd love to hear your perspective!
Julia Mullane
said on July 15, 2009
She might like the concept of making us more aware of the impact these disposable items have on our planet, but I am not so sure that she would approve of the methodology and delivery.
go to www.holly-hughes.com.
Gabrielle Smarr
said on July 15, 2009
In Philadelphia on south street there is an entire gallery/shop that is dedicated to making works of art out of others garbage. It's quite an interesting thing to see and some of the works are unbelievable.
Julia Mullane
said on July 16, 2009
I am so glad that you shared this. There are so many artists doing truly great things with others discards. Perhaps you could post some of the galleries that are sharing this?
Julia