Recently I was driving to work and I was listening to KCRW when I heard this story. It is about an artist from Zimbabwe, Moffat Takadiwa, who collects and cleans trash sent to his country from America to make art that is both political, but also beautiful. I personally did not know we shipped garbage to this country, and I think it's important for more Americans to be aware of the environmental impact our trash has on the rest of the world. With the movement away from single-use plastics (ie. straws), I think an art exhibit like this could be really eye opening for some viewers, and is a less confrontational way of expressing the urgent need for better climate practices around the world.
After you look at the photos and listen to the segment, what is your immediate reaction? Would you know these sculptures were constructed from trash if you saw them? How do you feel about expressing issues such as these with such beautiful sculptures? Is that wise?
Note: Moffat Takadiwa’s exhibit, "Son of the Soil," is on display at the Nicodim Gallery in downtown LA until October 19th.
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