Transforming Trash into Beauty

Abstract

Transforming Trash into Beauty Vanessa Barragão (bio) Vanessa Barragão, art, trash, Caribbean, Portugal, coral, trash into beauty, bleached coral, wool, lyocell During my childhood, I traveled to the Caribbean sea with my parents. That is where I saw coral reefs for the first time. I was so excited that I still remember it, like a photograph! All those colors and life forms were truly impressive—probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The sea was quite different back home in Portugal. Year by year, the deterioration of the coral reefs was notorious. It was obvious that it was happening at a very fast pace. The corals, an important pillar for the biodiversity found in the ocean, lost their distinctive colors, and so many life forms gradually faded away—it made me feel very sad every time we visited. After attending university, I realized how polluting the textile industry really is—one of the most polluting in the world. In almost the entire process, chemicals are used either to treat the fibers or dyeing fabrics. Not to mention all the heavy and energy-wasting machinery used, resulting in an extremely harmful industry to our planet. Most of us don't even realize it or really think about it. Mass production, much of it imposed by fast fashion, influenced a false necessity of buying more and more clothes, and a bigger need to consume, even if unconsciously. To make things worse, these products have very short expiry dates due to their poor quality, leaving us with a huge trail of pollution. All these factors have a negative impact on our natural environments and, consequently, many animal species lose their habitat. Huge islands of plastic form in the ocean and can be seen from space (with much more invisible beneath the surface). Plastic can be found in the sand of even the most remote beaches you can think of, and dead fish wash ashore with their stomachs filled with microplastics. Nature needs attention. Many life forms are being threatened. Art can be a tool to raise awareness about this problem. As a creative person, my mission is to find ways to reuse leftovers from others, transforming trash into beauty people can appreciate and get connected with. [End Page 49] Click for larger view View full resolution Bleached Coral, 2022 Repurposed /discarded wool & lyocell, jute, & LED lighting [End Page 50] Click for larger view View full resolution Balance, 2023 Repurposed /discarded wool & lyocell, jute [End Page 51] Click for larger view View full resolution Oceano, 2022 Wool, lyocell, latex [End Page 52] Click for larger view View full resolution Dunas, 2022 Repurposed /discarded wool & lyocell, jute [End Page 53] Click for larger view View full resolution [End Page 55] Click for larger view View full resolution Coral Garden, 2021 Repurposed /discarded wool & lyocell, jute Preceding spread: Botanical, 2018–19 Repurposed /discarded wool & lyocell, jute [End Page 56] Vanessa Barragão VANESSA BARRAGÃO is a Portuguese visual artist renowned for her nature-inspired textile creations and large-scale installations. Most of her artwork is created with waste and discards sourced from textile factories. Her mission is to raise awareness of the impact of the textile industry on our oceans and environment. Copyright © 2022 University of North Carolina Wilmington