Waste that spurs a green canvas
View(s):By Arrenga Nadaraja
In a small white room we stand observing art and products crafted from plastic bottles, old fabric in a variety of colours and bottle caps, all utilised to convey a story on canvas in hopes of fostering a greener future.
Green Canvas, led by a self-taught artist who prefers to remain anonymous, works to recycle materials, including fashion waste and e-waste. “There is a story behind each and every artwork. I want to let my art speak, not me, myself.”
The name ‘Green Canvas’ the artist says, stands for a green nation and a green country. “My goal is to reduce waste and then make the awareness among society that you can use waste in a creative way.”
They started upcycling two years ago. So it is that lunch sheets, which have “become a disaster now” contribute to art; an old liquor bottle is painted light blue and artistically wrapped in a lunch sheet.
During COVID-19 they repurposed non-hazardous medical items, such as blue masks and Panadol cards, to create art.
The difficulty is in acquiring waste materials from big companies. A certain firm in Angoda does offer recycling services, allowing the artist to collect what they needed but others were less helpful. The artist also acquires materials from India and their current base in Malaysia.
Many of the exhibits are blue to highlight that a significant amount of the waste that ends up in landfills is released into the ocean. One artwork made of X-ray film is the only black and white piece they will showcase for their exhibition.
The Green Canvas exhibition will take place at Siam Nivasa from June 19 to 22, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Searching for that next furry family member but couldn’t find one in your area? Hitad.lk has the solution with our extensive listings of dogs for sale in Sri Lanka!