Philippine artist fights waste by using recycled trash in paintings

By Adrian Portugal
MANILA, March 12 (Reuters) - When Filipino artist Gilbert
Angeles found out that his country was one of the world's
biggest contributors of plastic trash in the ocean he felt
compelled to take action.
Angeles decided the best way to show how discarded waste
could be given a new life in a different medium was to
incorporate materials ranging from shredded plastic to old paint
and leftover construction wood in his paintings.
Since 2019, he has made over two dozen paintings of this
kind.
"I make these artworks to raise awareness so we can fight
against the trash in our area, to make us more responsible in
how we dispose of our trash, and to make us aware of where our
trash goes," said the 49-year-old.
The artist sources the materials from around his Manila
neighbourhood or through donations from contacts he has made
since launching his environmental campaign.
Angeles remembers being spurred on to take up the project
after seeing a news report about the Philippines being one of
the top contributors of plastic waste.
The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China
account for around 60% of the world's marine plastic, or 8
million tonnes annually, according to a 2017 report from the
Ocean Conservancy and the McKinsey Center for Business and
Environment.
Angeles' artwork has since been shown in galleries, with
paintings selling for around $600 to $3,000, depending on the
size. Part of the proceeds goes to his environmental group,
Green Artz, which encourages artists to use recycled waste in
their work.
"I love the fact that it gives us hope," said Linda
Pecoraro, general manager of Conrad Hotel, where Angeles' work
is being exhibited.
"It's got beautiful colours and recycled plastic,
repurposing things that damage our environment and making them
beautiful."