The art of giving waste a second life

Faced with an environmental emergency and the depletion of natural resources, a collective awareness is emerging: it’s time to rethink our production and consumption patterns. The circular economy, which aims to close product life cycles and recover waste rather than throw it away, is emerging as a sustainable, value-creating solution.

While this virtuous model is developing in many industrial sectors, it is also finding a particular echo in the world of art and creation. More and more artists are seizing on the principles of the circular economy to give waste a poetic and committed second life.

Upcycling, an art in its own right

Far from being simply worthless scraps, in the hands of these creators, waste becomes the material of choice for creating unique and original works. This practice, known as “upcycling”, involves transforming and adding value to used objects into creations of greater artistic, emotional or economic value.

Artists such as France’s Gaspard Tiné-Berès and Ghana’s El Anatsui have become leading figures in this movement. The former creates monumental sculptures from aluminum bottle caps, while the latter weaves shimmering tapestries from recycled corks and cans.

But upcycling isn’t limited to the plastic arts. It can also be found in object design, furniture and even fashion, with designers who sublimate recycled materials to create unique, desirable pieces.