Turning art into activism in Ghana
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Turning art into activism in Ghana – DW – 07
Artist Obed Addo is turning discarded plastic into art that aims to inspire change. His intricate collages, such as one depicting a chained woman, are made entirely of shredded plastic. His work sends a dual message: highlighting the environmental crisis and challenging people to rethink what is considered disposable. By reclaiming refuse and repurposing it into beauty, artists like Obed are advocating for a cultural shift toward sustainability and self-worth. “There is worth in waste,” says artist Beatrice Bee Arthur.
In a small studio in Accra, Ghana, artist Obed Addo is turning discarded plastic into art that aims to inspire change. His intricate collages, such as one depicting a chained woman—a nod to the nation’s history with slavery—are made entirely of shredded plastic. His materials don’t come from art stores, but from the streets around him, collected with help from his young son. It’s upcycling at its best—a creative protest against plastic pollution and a powerful commentary on reclaiming worth from what society deems useless.
♻️ Art That Elevates Both Environment and Identity
For Obed, the process is painstaking and deeply personal. It can take months to complete a single piece. Yet, it’s not just about aesthetics—it’s about transformation. As he puts it, “If I can pick up what you call waste and transform it into something beautiful, it means that you too are worth it.” His work sends a dual message: highlighting the environmental crisis and challenging people to rethink what—and who—is considered disposable. This message was amplified at Accra’s Science and Technology Museum, where Obed’s pieces were displayed alongside other waste-based artworks aiming to shift mindsets and spark dialogue. The title: Echoes of the Landfill .
🌍 A Cultural Shift Toward Sustainable Creativity
Curator and artist Beatrice Bee Arthur echoes this urgency, emphasizing that it’s not plastic itself that’s the problem—it’s how we choose to use and discard it. By reclaiming refuse and repurposing it into beauty, artists like Obed are advocating for a cultural shift toward sustainability and self-worth. “There is worth in waste,” she insists. And Obed proves this every time he turns a plastic bag into art: showing that beauty can be found in unlikely places, and that awareness can begin with a single shred.
Nigerian artist weaving waste into stunning portrait To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/doing-your-bitturning-art-into-activism-in-ghana/video-73365844