Seoul is full of trash, artistically speaking. The South Korean capital claims what may be the largest recycled plastic art installation in the world: the Happy Happy Plastic Stadium. Joy!
Green Seoul
Last September, 3,600 people collected 1.7 million pieces of thrown-out plastic in 40 days, requiring 488 dump trucks. Korean public art company Godsome headed the project, which evolved into a citywide collaboration between citizens and businesses. The installation decorates the Jamsil Sports Complex and is being showcased this week at the Seoul Design Olympiad 2008, which runs from Oct. 10-31.
The Happy Happy installation is just one example of Seoul’s greening efforts; the city is adding 17 new bicycle paths totaling about 124 miles, and it’s on the cutting edge of sustainable building design.
Recycled Art Displays
Back to trash art: I love this idea and as the burgeoning ‘trash/junk/recycled art movement’ will attest, so do others. Garbage artists around the globe are transforming landfill-destined plastic bags, scraps, tin cans—whatever they can find—into thought-provoking and sustainable art. During your travels, seek out local trash art installations and recycled art festivals. Here are a few cool ones I’ve found:
The Rock Garden of Chandigarh: Self-taught Indian artist Nek Chand created the world-famous Rock Garden in India, built of discarded materials like broken pots and bottles. The garden features statues of animals and people, like these ladies made out of women's colored bangles . www.clt.astate.edu
The Beer Can House: John Milkovisch retired from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1968 and starting this decades-long project incorporating nearly 40,000 beer cans into his Austin, Texas house. www.beercanhouse.org
Astro Boy: In Tokyo, a 10 ft. by 7 ft. work displays 138,000 old metro tickets glued together to create anime cartoon character, Astro Boy. On temporary display at the Shinjuku Takashimaya Department Store.
HA Schult's Trash People: A traveling art exhibit displaying 1,000 life-sized ‘Trash People’ against dramatic landscapes at numerous famous sites, including the Great Wall of China and New York City. www.haschult.de
Recycle Santa Fe 2008: Nov. 14-16 in Santa Fe, N.M. See green fashion like a gown made of recycled plastic bags, recycled metal art and jewelry made from bicycle parts. Admission: $5, free for kids 12 and under. www.recyclesantafe.org.
Oil Drum Art: A Connecticut non-profit started this environmental and political art movement. Used 55-gallon oil drums are painted and redesigned into art and decorative furnishings. Exhibits held several times a year. www.oildrumart.org
What recycled/trash art exhibits have you seen during your travels? Have you ever made recycled art? Please share your experiences!
