Waste and Found Objects as Potent Creative Resources: A Review of the Art is Everywhere Project

Art is a continuum comprising a plethora of styles, techniques and media. In the search for creative fulfillment, the artist has consistently explored the environment as a useful source of ideas and materials. As integral components of the environment, waste and found objects have been appropriated in art production by numerous artists as potent creative resources. Given the growing global concerns on environmental degradation and climate change, the transformation of waste and found objects into works of art imbued with new meaning, function and value, is an important avenue to creating a sustainable environment. Furthermore, waste-to-art initiatives have other derivable benefits. This essay reviews the activities of the Art is Everywhere (AIE) Project, a waste-to-art initiative that not only creates awareness on the viability of waste and found objects as potent creative resources, but also facilitates its practical engagement. Historical, narrative and analytical approaches were adopted. Textual and visual materials were used to examine the activities of the Art is Everywhere Project. The challenges facing the AIE Project were also discussed as well as the prospects. The use of waste and found objects as creative resources is a viable method of waste management. In addition to encouraging entrepreneurship and income generation, it also provides new aesthetic windows for visual engagement.