Author: Valentino Brasca
Editor: Rayna Almas
Graphic Designer: Alessia Carpino
Publisher: Jumana Ismail
For years, we have idolized artists for their astonishing work. Throughout history, artists displayed their pieces in museums and sold them for millions. From paintings, sculptures and even people, art has taken many shapes and forms. For an artist, their chosen medium can be a personal statement about them or about something they advocate for. The following artists have chosen to make their art out of unique materials with the goal of sustainability in mind. In no particular order, these are 5 sustainable artists whose work you have to see.
Bettina Werner
Bettina Werner is an Italian artist based in NYC. She was first discovered in the 1980’s, which is when her work really took off. Werner makes abstract paintings and sculptures entirely from pigmented salt crystals. She got the idea from her love of philosophy. The philosopher Homer referred to salt as “the Divine Ingredient”, which inspired her to make art from it. Werner also believed that salt brought good fortune and luck. Now, her art is displayed in museums, as well as sold on the internet. In addition to her art, Werner runs the Salt Queen foundation. Started in 2002, the Salt Queen foundation discovers and funds artists who create with unique mediums. Her famous works include:
(UN BUCO NEL CUORE) (ABOVO) (TIBINO Dashing in the Rain)
Andy Goldsworthy
Andy Goldsworthy is a British sculptor and photographer. Goldsworthy constructs his artworks out of items found in nature. Sticks, stones and even snow are all mediums for Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy’s art is made with the purpose of being transitory. His art has a heavy emphasis on leaving materials where they are found and letting them fade back into their environment. Goldsworthy begins his process by going to a site and appreciating the materials as they are naturally. Then, he begins to construct his artwork, photographing the before, during and after. Goldsworthy makes a point to return to the sites to track his pieces’ return to nature. His notable works include:
(Snowball in Trees) (Woven Branch Circular Arch) (Yellow and Dark Elm Leafwork)
Vik Muniz
Vik Muniz is an artist from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Muniz uses waste and food materials to recreate famous art pieces. Muniz has made his work from various materials like chocolate, jam (the spread), toys, and garbage. Instead of displaying the physical versions of his work, Muniz photographs and projects his pieces throughout NYC and Rio de Janairo. Muniz employs informal Brazillian workers called Catadores. Catadores roam the streets of Rio de Janairo cleaning the streets, collecting garbage and recyclable materials in their trademark carts. His famous artworks include:
(Marat) (Starry Night) (Mona Lisa)
Derek Gores
Derek Gores is an artist from NYC. Gores graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1993. Since then, he has made a huge name for himself, and has work displayed all over the United States. Gores focuses primarily on surrealist portraiture. Gores’ chosen medium is paper clippings from various sources. Gores utilizes clippings from magazines, maps, newspapers and even printed song lyrics to make his work. Gores balances popping colour with intense detail, turning small individual segments into a large cohesive image. The draw of his pieces are the small details that can be found within the clippings. His famous works include:
(Moments to Melt) (Full Volume Klint 7) (Cleverness du Chat Pink)
Yuken Teruya
Yuken Teruya is an artist from Okinawa, Japan. Teruya studied art at Tama Art University in Tokyo and the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Now, Teruya is based in Berlin, Germany. Teruya creates sculptures from single use paper bags. Teruya cuts holes in the side of the paper bags to create the shape of a tree. The bag acts as a natural stage for the art inside, methodically created so that only one person can view the piece at a time. As well, the hole in the top of the bag allows natural light to come in so that the tree inside is well lit at all times. Teruya chooses to use paper bags from fast food chains as a way of targeting them and conveying an anti-consumerist message with his artwork. Some of his famous works are:
(Money Tree) (Golden Arch Parkway)
The above artists all use their artwork as a platform to convey messages of sustainability. Their eco-friendly approaches to art raise awareness for all issues of sustainability, including our food systems. If we approach all things with the mindset of preservation, everybody benefits and becomes more educated in the process.
Work Cited
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