CONSUME TO FURNISH

Waste, especially synthetic waste, is of increasing interest to artist and designer as resource.

Renowned conceptual artist Dan Peterman is a pioneer in this field. The staple of his work consists of furniture in multi-colored grey tones created from recycled "consumed" plastic. For instance 'Running Table' is a public picnic table created from the equivalent of two million plastic milk bottles. Other furniture is created from the anual plastic waste of a certain number of people.

In 'Store (Cheese)' Dan Peterman came up with a solution to dumping DDT-contaminated milk by turning it into cheese as a modulatory minimalistic work of art.

In 'Bottle Cap Pasta' Peterman makes Pasta using a utensil with a used bottle cap to shape the dough. The installation further contains recycled plastic floor, pallets and tables and refrigerators.


Dan Peterman, 'Running Table' (1997)


Dan Peterman, 'Store (Cheese)' (1991-1993)


Dan Peterman, 'Bottle Cap Pasta' (2001)


Dan Peterman, 'Bottle Cap Pasta (detail)' (2001)


Dan Peterman, 'Accessories to an Event (Ahlen)' (2003)

POWER FOOD

Patrick Bérubé, Canadian artist, made this piece as part of a larger installation 'Allégories de la Débilité ...' consisting of satirical objects with confusing and contradictionary content.



Patrick Bérubé, 'Allégories de la Débilité ...' (detail, 2010)

LIPOSUCTION FUEL STATION

Installation artist Michel de Broin proposes a human fat recycle project much in the same way as the origin of this blog (fitness feedback inc.).
In his model for 'Reciprocal Energy' he suggests that human fat, economised by driving motorized means of transport, should be made available as fuel for these vehicles. Through the combination of a liposuction clinic and a fuel station both the problems with obesity and fuel shortage can be tackled in one go.







Michel de Broin, 'Station' (2003)

"The model presents a development project for a liposuction clinic directly related to a gas station where the human fat will be resold as anthropo-diesel fuel. The liquidating of fat will be refunded at the market price (per liter) of biodiesel, wherein the price of fuel reaches that of the cost of extraction by liposuction."

To see more images go here: Reciporcal Energy by Michel de Broin.