South African Artists Transform Trash into Toys
Where some people see garbage, others see opportunity. A group of artists in and around Cape Town, South Africa, are turning trash into recycled toys and art objects--earning a living by reclaiming discarded soda cans, plastic containers, bottle caps and bits of wire to create everything from decorative flowers to working radios.
Anouk Zijlma, About.com’s guide to Africa Travel, discovered the recycled toys and “found art” during a trip to South Africa and brought home several pieces as souvenirs.
“All the toys work, as do the radio and pen,” says Zijlma. “It's nice to have souvenirs made from the brands you enjoyed on holiday. I drank the soda that the motorbike is made of and I had many packets of chips that I recognize in the placemat I bought. It's also very inspiring to bring these objects back and try and create similar pieces at home, especially with children.”
The Schweppes Tonic car shown at right is one of the recycled toys Zijlma purchased on her trip to South Africa. The doors all open, the bottle-cap wheels roll smoothly, and the windows are made from plastic water bottles.
To learn more, and to see an excellent photo gallery of recycled toys and art objects made by South African artists, visit About.com: Africa Travel.
Photo by Michael Daecher
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