Why Recycled Art Is the Future of Contemporary Creativity
Climate change is one of the most discussed topics in the modern world. To combat the harmful influences of human activity, people started looking for ways to make their lives ‘greener.’ This mindset has been adopted by many contemporary artists. We can currently see an increasing number of talented people abandoning conventional art mediums in favor of used materials. Let’s dive into the reasons why recycled art is so popular in this day and age.
Why is recycled art so popular?
1. Creativity is limitless
Recycled art includes paintings, sculptures, installations, and many other forms of artwork made from materials that are normally discarded. There are artists who do not limit themselves to a single medium and often venture outside of their comfort zone to seek inspiration. Many see the beauty in the items that others throw away. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
2. Highlighting important issues
A large portion of recycled art is also environmental art by its nature. Artists can use their art pieces to drive the attention of the public to the pressing problems and convey their point using visual representation. For example, a sculpture made out of plastic found in the ocean can be extremely thought-provoking and even disturbing — but that means that the artwork has fulfilled its purpose in triggering a response in the audience.
3. Environmental impact
Production of new materials is extremely taxing to the environment of our planet. Carbon emissions from fabrics are among the top reasons for climate change. Moreover, there is an issue of overproduction, meaning that half of the items we make are not even being used. Using what you already have to create is a great way to reduce the damage done to nature.
4. Accessibility
Some of the art materials can be quite expensive. On the other hand, there are perfectly usable things being thrown or given away for free every day. An artist can find a way to work with what they have and find inspiration where they least expect it.
It seems that the trend for recycled art is here to stay. It might not seem like a big deal, but all effort in preserving our planet and ensuring a future for the generations to come counts.