TreeLog

Back in 2004 when I was doing my undergraduate degree, I had a few art modules which encouraged us to observe our surroundings. One reality that struck through was the amount of waste that we were generating… the plastic bottles, packaging, aluminum cans, clothes etc. We throw them away without realising the impact of our actions on the environment.

Pollution: we hear this word often but do we realise how our actions are contributing everyday to pollution and affecting the environment?

Where does these waste go? How long do they take to decay? Can we reuse them to reduce pollution?

I started collecting waste for my art projects. I collected plastic bottles from the hotel nearby, the packaging of chocolates that I eat, newspapers… I used them for my artworks, 21 years ago when it was still avant-gardist to use waste products in art. 

In our current time 2025, I see a rise in consciousness. Hotels for example are no longer giving their clients plastic water bottles. Some hotels are bottling their own reusable water bottles and others are using bottles made from biodegradable material. These are positive actions but there is still a long way to go, starting with the basics like providing recycling bins to all the households in Mauritius.

In this Anthropocene era, it is important that we, human beings become conscious of our daily actions and how they can impact our planet… positively or negatively.

What do you do to minimize your impact on the environment?

P.S: All these artworks below were made during my undergraduate studies.

Observing my surroundings and drawing it (material used : piece of carton)