Sustainability through art
Vivien Ang
PLASTIC bottles, fruit packaging and bottle caps.
These items, which are usually discarded without much thought after they have served their purpose, were upcycled and used to create more than 190 pieces of artworks.
The creations by Singapore artists who are as young as seven years old, and people with special abilities, were displayed at Gardens by the Bay last Thursday (Mar 9).
The event, titled Art of Trash Competition, is a sequel to UBS’ Trash-Sure campaign launched in 2022.
It reached out to Singaporeans to draw inspiration from Bordalo II’s art installation of the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger, and create their original art pieces that showcase sustainability.
Artivist Bordalo II said: “Art is a very powerful medium to generate conversations on topics that are very important to the world. My sculptures which use recycled materials hope to deliver the message for a world to be less wasteful and the need for all of us to reduce, reuse and recycle.”
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm
Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
Valerie Lau, UBS’ head of Singapore and SEA, Apac Sustainable Finance Office, said: “We believe that the next generation is key to unlocking a more sustainable future. The competition will create a platform for the younger generation to express their perspectives on sustainability and inspire impactful conversations for a greener future.”
The Art of Trash Competition – which included partners and supporters such as UBS, Enabling Village by SG Enable, National Library Board and Pan Pacific Hotels Group – called for submissions in three categories: Primary School, Secondary School, and Open Category.
There were over 190 submissions, and the panel of judges selected nine winners. The group walked away with a total amount of S$8,000.
The first-prize winner in the Primary School category was Naomi Chu.
She created the sculpture Coral Calamity, which depicts the catastrophic process of coral bleaching.
Chu said: “To me, oceans are home to a variety of fascinating creatures that have yet to be discovered. However, they are dying at an alarming rate due to climate change and the plastic items that are disposed at sea. Therefore, I decided to make my sculpture out of household wastes such as plastic bags and soda bottles. I hope that my sculpture will raise awareness for the future protection of coral reefs.”
The works of the 22 finalists will be showcased at Ang Mo Kio Library from Mar 16 for a month.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
