Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub artists turning Auckland rubbish into art

An artist residency project at a recycling hub in Auckland is transforming or repurposing discarded objects into art.

At the Tāmaki Zero Waste Hub, seven artists have been experimenting with items that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

The site is one of two hubs in Auckland that sort, recycle and repair objects coming through the city’s inorganic collection.

The seven artists who are working together at the hub.
Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia

Artist Adam Ben-Dror has made a music installation with the inside of an old piano and fans from broken computers.

He has also created a wind-chime tree, decorated by old PlayStations, an X-box and a music-pumping car stereo powered by old car batteries.

He said a lot of e-waste went to landfill with just a small amount of precious metals extracted for reuse and he wanted to explore possibilities with these items.

A sound experiment made from various objects interacting with the inside of a piano.
Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia

Giulio Laura has made a bedside lamp with copper pipes from an old plumbing system.

“I’m trying to re-navigate how these materials could re-exist in your day-to-day life, and I like the idea of creating these objects that end up living beside you, as a reminder of the discard,” he said.

Inspired by his upbringing in Italy, where religious shrines are common, Laura has also crafted a mosaic shrine of a rubbish wheelie bin to get people thinking about waste and consumption.

The materials came from discarded kitchen and bathroom tiles.

A piece of mosaic created from discarded tiles.
Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia

Artist Chris Berthelsen said while the project was unable to ultimately solve the waste issue, he believed it has helped him to purchase less.

“In the process of getting to know all of this junk, and being able to enjoy myself for hours on end, just by using all the materials, it so happened that I ended up not buying anything anymore, because I already have so much stuff to enjoy,” he said.

He said if others were inspired to have a similar experience, it might lead them to buy less which would have a flow-on effect for the environment.

Artist Cheng Xin, who has been repairing broken sewing machines, shared that sentiment.

“For me it’s a lot about changing the culture of living, so by being part of this project, I’ve learnt these new skills, when it comes to repairs and sewing and this kind of frugal living practice which I think can be more widely shared,” she said.

Artist Cheng Xin has learnt to repair sewing machines.
Photo: RNZ / Lucy Xia

Cheng Xin will be running workshops to teach people how to make and mend things with the sewing machines she has repaired.

Despite the programme nearing its end next month, Berthelsen said he continued to be overwhelmed by the experience of junk at the recycling centre.

“It is amazing and traumatising and hilarious and very interesting to be constantly confronted with the flow of junk from the supercity,” he said.

An exhibition will take place on Saturday at the hub between 11am and 3pm, at 153 Pilkington Rd.