Most likely when you
think about recycling you do not envision art, especially
African art - until now. One person's trash becomes another's
treasure - handmade, colorful and clever works of art and
whimsy. This online exhibit is from the collection of Jude
Andreasen and Cleve Overton, who have just published a new
book, Creative Recycling: Handmade in Africa. The book has 80
full-color pages of model cars, trucks, motorcycles, planes
and boats, all made from bits of tin, wire, cloth, wood,
plastic and rubber. It is a testament to the imagination and
ingenuity of African children and craftsmen, and a delightful
addition to the body of publications on global folk art. The
collection was exhibited at the Museum of York County, South
Carolina, in 2001 - 2002 as "Re-cover, Re-Imagine,
Re-Adapt: Creative Recycling from Africa."
The pieces in the collection are from 22 African countries,
including Senegal, Mali, Madagascar, Kenya, South Africa and
the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Representing a folk art
form appropriately dubbed "recyclia," these
"found objects" have been "recycled" into
a new, unexpected and surprising life as miniature vehicles.
Who would have expected a used motor oil can to become a Land
Rover, or a discarded tuna can to become a boat?
Where does this creative recycling process begin? Without
the distractions of television or the plethora of manufactured
toys that surround youngsters in the West, African children
must create playthings for themselves. Everywhere in Africa,
children use whatever materials are available to amuse
themselves. A youthful fascination with locomotion and
vehicles is common in all corners of the African continent. A
miniature vehicle, even a simple wheel, can entertain for
hours at a time. If asked what the object is, a child will
answer "car" or "truck." There seems to be
no word for "toy" in many African languages.
It's at an early age that children in Africa learn
responsibility. They help adults to gather firewood, draw
water, grow food, herd livestock and tend babies. Even when
they begin to invent their own toys, making a car from an
empty can and a piece of rope, they must often interrupt their
amusement to help the family. By age 12 and 13, many of these
children are quite accomplished and tin-snips and pliers are
prized tools. Building their toys, children picture the places
they will go and the things they will do - all the while
learning to be artists, engineers and inventors.
When they grow into young adults, these Africans realize
they may supplement the family income by selling their works
to foreigners. They refine their techniques and make them more
sophisticated and appealing. They begin to use solder and
glue, and find better materials to recycle.
Thus, our initial inclination to call this collection
"toys" would hardly do justice to the art. Many of
these pieces were not made for or by children - although the
artisans usually began their craft while very young. Their joy
in crafting has been joined in a serious purpose, and the
results are wonderful works of art and craft. This is
recycling as you've never seen it!
In This Exhibit
