New ideas often arise from everyday work. This was also the case with Michael Strogies, who had already used packaging materials in earlier art projects, such as live painting with models, to enhance the backgrounds of the models like collages. He used plastic film, corrugated cardboard and later also plants such as leaves and ivy branches. The combination of plastic waste and nature created an exciting interplay.
‘For us, plastic and nature are two contradictory concepts that are difficult to reconcile. Plastic waste has become a serious problem and is destroying our natural environment. That's precisely why I was fascinated by the combination of the two', explains Michael Strogies. As he often does, he tries to look at things from a different perspective.
Our society has become a throwaway society: Packaging, consuming, disposing. Every year, 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced, of which far too much ends up in the oceans, threatening animals and humans. Together, we need to rethink and change our behaviour - preventing instead of recycling.
Art as an impulse for reflection in the fight against plastic waste
Plastic needs to be questioned more critically and treated with more appreciation. Our aim is to turn plastic into an art material and give it a platform. Art should give us thought-provoking impulses - against plastic waste and for a more sustainable future.
