‘Who would have thought trash would be so beautiful?‘: Trashformers exhibition launches

A group of artists is hoping to inspire people to look at the materials around them in a new light. CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson explains.

A group of artists is hoping a new exhibition will inspire people to look at objects they might usually see as trash in a different light.

The Trashformers exhibition at city hall uses recycled materials like old shirts, bread clips and rescued fabric to make everything from clothes to furniture to art.

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The idea is something an Edmonton fashion designer tried to do multiple times in the past without success, but last year, found some like-minded artists.

“We shared a vision that was sustainability and giving new life to old objects, and we worked together,” said Aradhana Shah.

“A lot of people may call it trash, but I call it treasure, and I’ve used that in a lot of my pieces.”

Some of the pieces at the exhibit include flowers made from egg cartons, an ottoman made from old t-shirts and pillows and a dress with sequins made from old insulin pen needle covers.

“Sometimes I’ll come across some material, and I’m like, ‘Oh, this is so beautiful,’ and so I would save it,” said Elena Panadero Gascon, an artist.

“This was a perfect opportunity to come together as a group and give a vision to those materials that were just too precious to let go of.”

Panadero Gascon said the process of making the artwork involved a lot of trial and error, but it was also a lot of fun.

Four main artists worked on the exhibition, with other local artists helping with some of the smaller pieces.

“Who would have thought trash would be so beautiful?” Shah asked. “Every time anybody sees any trash, they can be imaginative, they can be creative and you don’t have to buy supplies from outside, you have a lot of supplies at home that you can use.

“You can do a group project with your children, even a birthday party, it’s just sustainability and using whatever you have.”

These upcycled pieces can even be used again when they’ve outgrown their current form, Panadero Gascon said.

“There’s always a transformation, and it can be many transformations,” she added.

The show goes until the end of April and the group is hoping to do another one after.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson