Trash is Treasure Talks - Antwerpen
How Value and beauty can be found in what is thrown away. A talk on sustainability and the beauty of materials that surrounds us
18 september 2024, 18:30
Operaplein
Free event
A dialogue moderated by Victor Verheyden with two creative entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of sustainable and circular material use. Tom De Koninck transforms waste materials into elegant furniture, while Aisha Kuijk draws inspiration from nature to reinvent our footwear. This event aims to foster mutual inspiration, knowledge exchange, and actionable insights. What lessons can we learn from each other? What current challenges do we face, and how can we shape the future of sustainable design?
The pavilion
Young talent portrays the social side of the circular economy
Three emerging artists, Tatjana Huong Henderieckx, Pol Olivier and Ged Proost, will fill the pavilion with artworks to visually represent the interaction between social and circular economy. They examine the entire circular chain, not only from an economic but also from a social perspective, to make it more understandable and approachable.
For this, MUCE asked them some critical questions about the working conditions in extracting raw materials for the green transition and the status and perception associated with manual labour in a circular economy. In addition, they look at the image of residual materials: how can we find beauty in reusing and restoring raw materials and products?’
From residual materials to circular pavilion
After the success of the first pop-up museum on circular economy in 2022, which attracted more than 6,000 visitors in one month, MUCE has come up with a new concept. We are coming to you with and travelling exhibition that aims to spark dialogue in public space through a circular pavilion filled with art. To this end, we engaged Cuypers & Q to realise the architectural modular pavilion. The Antwerp-based architectural firm, which specialises in circularity, has used recovered materials for this project, such as residual metals from the port and old tents, which can easily be returned to the cycle after completion. The execution is partly the result of the young collective && and partly by social customisation company CiLab.
Love, hate, debate
We also organise various events in the pavilion. From inspiring talks on sustainability in the fashion industry where we discuss responsible consumption and production with various women, to discussion evenings on current topics in Flanders to waste colonialism in Europe.
MUCE Modular has been realised with the support of the Federal Government, National Lottery players, the King Baudouin Foundation and Kaira Fund. The exhibition is free to enter and can be seen at various locations:
- Operaplein, Antwerpen (14-19 september)
- Beursplein, Brussel (20-26 september)
- Korenmarkt, Gent (27 september – 3 oktober)
- Molenpoort, Hasselt (3-10 oktober)