RECYCLING // COMMUNITY // DIY
Art installation
Workshops
(2022)
Soil, found objects, plants, water, archive binder with paper
The Recycle Jungle was a community plant and object exchange project. It created a movement that recycles used containers into new homes for plants. I aimed to inspire others to think creatively about objects they would discard, instead turning it into a new pot to plant something in; an unwanted object of trash transformed into a vessel for new life. The Recycle Jungle invited people to contribute their objects and plants to the project, adding to the Jungle archive. The exchange continued as participants were welcome to take one of the new plant objects home in exchange for their contribution.
This art project started as a sustainable initiative with the intention to bring the community together, recycle used objects, encourage gardening as a hobby, and to spark circular thinking. The project developed into a piece exhibited at The Power of Collaboration group exhibition held at Treehouse NDSM. For the exhibition piece, mixed found objects collected over a few months were placed on a mound of soil, representing the foundation for new beginnings as the objects adopted their new roles as plant homes. A catalogue listed each object and the story behind it: where the object came from, why it wasn't used anymore.
I also developed workshops alongside the exhibition, which have continued in other settings such as De Sering community center. Attendees to the workshops were encouraged to bring their own objects, plant something within them, and add the object to the exhibition installation. This way, the piece grew with community contributions as the exhibition progressed. We asked participants to write a small line or two about each object, so visitors could learn about the stories behind each one.
The Power of Collaboration
Exhibition at Treehouse NDSM
Workshops
Held at Treehouse NDSM, led by artist Bruna Souza
Recycle Jungle Collection
A selection of objects contributed to the archive
