New Exhibition Explores Domestic Waste Issues From Different Perspectives
WDCB’s Gary Zidek catches up with artist Lan Tuazon to talk about her new exhibit, FUTURE FOSSILS: SUM.
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“The show really wants to present a circular economy, (that’s where) you begin with something, the thing that you’re using, has another use and it circles back in, avoids the waste stream, produces the material for the next thing we use, and in a way hopefully those things start connecting. It really impacts us all as people.” - artist Lan Tuazon talking her new exhibit FUTURE FOSSILS at the Hyde Park Art Center.
Artist Lan Tuazon standing in front of one of her nesting installations in FUTURE FOSSILS.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generated 292.4 million tons of waste in 2018, half of it was buried in landfills, 32% was recycled or composted and the rest was combusted/burned to generate electricity. More troubling is the fact that the nation is running out of space for its waste output, which shows no signs of slowing down. The Hyde Park Art Center’s new exhibit, FUTURE FOSSILS: SUM, is shining a light on our collective waste issues. But artist Lan Tuazon isn’t simply advocating for the 3 R’s of reducing, reusing and recycling, she’s exploring deeper questions of how society values materials and what a truly environmentally conscious way of life might look like.
Tuazon’s exhibit draws attention to some of the depressing realities of our current waste situation. But it also highlights some reasons for optimism, like a company that produces water containers so strong they can be used as building materials. Tuazon is also encouraging patrons to bring recyclable materials to drop off during their visit, those items will be incorporated into the exhibit house during the run of the show.
The recycling containers inside FUTURE FOSSILS.
