Dumping art

by Anna de Polo

Imagine entering a space where nothing is what it seems and imagination reigns supreme; imagine you are transported into a dimension where objects live a second life and are ennobled through the magic gesture of an artist. If you're curious to discover what it is visit the exhibition “Dumping Art 2010, dalla discarica al riciclo: arte a tutela dell’ambiente”(Dumping Art 2010, from landfill to recycling: environmental art), being held in Genoa until June 30 at the display space Artelier, located in the Palazzo Ducale’s main courtyard.

In Artelier, in an exhibition route rather short but in a pleasant environment, are exposed the clothes made with discarded materials by Caterina Crepax and the works of Maria Teresa Illuminato, founder of Saveart, an art movement born in Milan in 2004 to give a new body to the artistic creativity sensible to environmental protection.Looking at the clothes of Crepax, of a dreamy and refined taste, one is tempted to touch them to understand what they are made of, but even so it is difficult to guess without the help of illustrative plates. Stamps, plastic nets of oranges, bottle caps and video tapes abandon their original identity and functionality to be reborn as unusual fabrics thanks to the genius of the artist. You are affected by the elegance of the installations and the poverty of the materials, contrast that highlights the power of imagination and art in an age of consumerism as this, where nothing is ever enough and where objects, the "stuff", are never beautiful enough, strong enough, enough technology to meet our induced needs.

«The artistic event becomes an opportunity for reflection and a method for educating to respect the environment -explains Elisabetta Lodoli, curator of the exhibition with Elena Boschiero- We have tested this especially in last year edition, attended by schools from all over Liguria, who used the visit to the exhibition as an opportunity to study and discuss environmental issues». In the display are also provided educational workshops for children on the theme of recycling, waste and environment, organized by association RICREA.

Another merit of the exhibition is to stimulate imagination and help you discover that the objects that surround us every day may suggest new ideas, if only we observe them with an eye a bit more "creative". Here then, with a little manual ability and a lot of imagination, we too can become an artist of creative recycling and reuse. Many have already thought it, both in Italy and abroad, where there are lots of blogs publishing posts to suggest the readers concrete ideas of reuse and recycling (see for example Recyclart and IoRicreo). These sites are located within the ambit of the upcycle, born in Anglo, which consists into creating new products using objects and materials intended to the garbage can. The fundamental aim is to promote a sustainable and alternative lifestyle that goes against consumerism of our society. In Italy the users of these products are still a niche, but growing, as evidenced by the numerous events and trade fairs held on the theme of recycling and environmental sustainability, such as "EcoFatto", "ReMade in Italy", "Fa’ la cosa giusta” and the initiative "M'illumino di meno".

Whether it's art or a bit weird crafts, the idea is basically the same: to discover that the waste is a resource, if interpreted with imagination and intelligence. If you can see beyond the object and imagine a second life for it, useful because functional or simply because beautiful, then that magical space where nothing is what it seems can become reality. And Nature would thanks.