Abstract

A sustainable light art installation at Kerry Centre, where each upcycled decorative parts could be repurposed after the dismantle.

Description

With upcycled plastic bags and PET/HDPE  plastic bottles to transform into LED tubes of this art installation, they lit up the tree with the wastes we produce, guiding us the “light” (and right) way.

Our mission and goal for this art installation are:

1/ Plastic waste data visualisation
2/ To give second or even third life to used and unwanted wastes
3/ To increase environmental awareness through a meaningful and empowering installation

Pandemic waste x Sustainable art x Community

In the spirit of care and reflection, CeeKayEllo (CKL), with the support of Kerry Group’s Jigsaw volunteering team, presents a sustainable light art installation, “Glow Green” this holiday season in a bid to encourage and inspire different ways to upcycle plastic waste — a topic that is especially important at a time when precautionary measures for health and safety is causing major setbacks in environmental efforts.

Scheduled for a month-long display at the lobby of Kerry Centre from 30 November, the near seven-meter-tall, tree-shape light art installation is carefully designed and created using over 7,000 plastic waste from drinking bottles to courier bags, bottles from hand sanitisers and cleaning products, takeaway boxes and disposable cups. Donated by various members of the community including Kerry Group, artist collectives, private companies and non-profit organisations, these single-use plastic are each artistically transformed into beautiful creations, and together, form into a sustainable Christmas installation that serves to vividly visualise, in an artistic, aesthetically engaging way, the amount of plastic waste we have accumulated — whether it’s from takeouts due to dining restrictions, frequent usage of hand sanitisers, delivery orders and more — during the pandemic.

“Through this installation, we hope to encourage everyone to rethink how waste is created, handled and perceived in this throwaway culture we continue to live in, and ways we can help to neutralise the damage we cause by adopting the three-step practice of reduce, reuse, recycle, and, most importantly, by saying no to single-use plastic,” says Karen Chan, founder and Creative Director of CeeKayEllo (CKL).

Complimenting the towering structure is a two-meter, simplified version locating on first floor, where young children will be able to get a much closer look at each of the whimsical, lighted creations. Furthermore, to ensure all upcycled pieces will continue to live a sustainable life, each piece from the installations is thoughtfully designed to be repurposed for further use after dismantling.

Plastic is not as bad as you think

When Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin invented the cheap, durable and resistant plastic shopping bag in 1959, he meant it for repeated, long-term use to help reduce the need for paper bags. That is because though producing plastic is energy and resource intensive in some ways, it compares favourably to the production of a number of materials, including paper, which also requires the chopping of trees. In fact, paper mills — which contribute heavily to deforestation, acid rain, greenhouse gasses, and not-to-mention, water pollution — are traditionally known to be some of the biggest polluters in the world. Furthermore, plastic has a longer lifespan, therefore, when used properly, it is capable of creating environmental benefits as a whole. That is why it is important that we refuse single-use plastic, and instead, explore ways to reuse and repurpose these plastic produce.

Recycle and upcycle

In an effort to inspire visitors to recycle and repurpose used plastics, different parts of the holiday light art installation are made up of different kinds of upcycled creations:

1. The decorative leaves are made with heated plastic beverage bottles featuring organic patterns. After the  holiday showcase, they can act be turned into candle or pen holders, as a gift to the underprivileged children in the community, fostering a sustainability mindset from a young age.

2. The plants surrounding the base of the installation comes with upcycled planters made from spray-painted plastic bottles, which will be sent to elderly afterwards to warm up their winter.

3. The LED lights are wrapped with durable tubes made from PET and HDPE waste from shredded plastic bottles, which can be reused for future events.

4. The platform of the tree is filled with plastic wastes to offer a more memorable visual of the amount of takeaway boxes and plastic bags were disposed of within a month due to WFH arrangements, dining restrictions and the pause in accepting personal mugs at chained cafes. After dismantling, these waste will be shredded for other upcycle projects.

Play Your Part for Secret Art workshop

As part of a continuous commitment in fostering local talents and preserving the art of craftsmanship, CeeKayEllo (CKL) and Kerry Engagement have also co-hosted a series of special workshops, dubbed “Play Your Part for Secret Art”. With assistance from Hong Kong creatives Charlene Man, GoHung and Natalie Cheung from non-profit arts association HKCRAFTS, Jigsaw volunteers were able to take part in creating their own unique version of upcycled pieces, each formed as part of the light art installation that is set to come to life at Kerry Centre.

We would also like to thank the following partners for collecting the plastic waste for “Glow Green”:

The Aberdeen Marina Club
Bar Pacific
Botanic Pretti5
Boundless Artist Collective
Chinese Manufacturer’s Association of Hong Kong
Hair Culture
HKCRAFTS
JEN Hong Kong by Shangri-La
Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong
Kerry Logistics Network Limited
Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel
LinkedIn
MegaBox
Mini Studio Limited
Nero Kitchen
o&o studio
Pan Asian Mortgage Company Limited
Profilia of West Germany (Far East) Limited
Ran Consulting Ltd
Raze Technology
Revé by René
Superdry
SuperHealth
Vita Green

and Botanic Union for donating 50 X’mas flowers for this meaningful project!