Last semester Fiona started looking into creating from recycled products and eventually ended up using cardboard. Initially she was also interested in it biodegrading. When I first heard about her intentions I thought more about the environmental aspects and how such art could make a great statement. This reminded me of an artist I found when reading the eco online journal 'Inhabitat design will save the world', the Brazilian artist Nele Azevedo and her art installations titled 'Melting Men'.
Nele's work speaks for itself but for more photos and words from her own mouth you might want to read some of her interviews: 'Inhabitat' titled 'Eco Art Calls Attention to Global Warming' by Moe Beitiks and a self titled interview in GreenMuze.
After seeing what Fiona produced at the end of self directed last semester, I was reminded of Keil Johnson and his cameras. Keil's cameras are based more on practicality -- he produced his first camera as a prop for a friend's photography exhibition which inspired the production of the dozens that followed. As well as cameras Keil has built singular musical instruments, a whole one-man band, a printing press and (my favorite) a man that on the surface looks like he is made from lego type blocks but is much more. I won't spoil the surprise -- visit Keil Johnson's website.
Although I am unsure whether the materials Keil uses are in fact recycled or second hand (I formulated this suspicion by watching a video that he made of documenting his creative process -- if you're interested it's near the bottom of the web page highlighted above), but because such products could be made from recycling, he is also featured in the online eco journal Inhabitat along with Patianne Stevenson and her cardboard kitchen, among other cardboard artists.
Above is a Fair Trade product made from old magazines.
During the holidays Fiona has been thinking a lot about recycling in terms of using something that has become unwanted and revitalising it for a new different product. Laura Labrin is recognised for her own very green idea. She uses video tape (something that has been outdated by new technologies) removing the ribbon then stretching it to use it like a yarn to make a totally new product far from its original purpose. For this Laura won the Dream weaver competition in 2009 and the Appletion Street studio Sandra Bardas studio Grant. Read more about her product and the ideas behind them in an interview with Laura by Life Lounge.
Fiona, in her own practice, had two distinct directions she was heading towards.
One was lamps/ lamp shades so I did a bit of searching and found Stewart Haygarth who's specialty is just that, lamps from recycled products which still keep the integrity of what the original product once was.
Stewart Haygarth chandelier made from discarded spectacles
The other direction Fiona was looking at pursuing was continuing with cardboard as her artistic medium, only this time making the end product useful or -- more precisely -- functional. Fiona is now looking at cardboard furniture. I think the major challenge in this idea would be durability there for the joins to me are where I'd start my research.
Glued and stacked
Cut slots
Cardboard tubes and holes
(you can get cardboard tubes for free at any large material store by saying you're a student, they dispose of them quickly after they are no longer useful so you might need to make an arrangement or go to a few different shops.)
(you can get cardboard tubes for free at any large material store by saying you're a student, they dispose of them quickly after they are no longer useful so you might need to make an arrangement or go to a few different shops.)
Holes and something threaded through
