In addition, this artwork focuses on physical skills of passers-by. It takes a small but pleasant exercise to use the bin. It also makes me think of the so-called ‘blikvangers’, which most Dutch people will know. These bins are huge nets with a vertical ring along Dutch highway exits and bike paths. The idea is that people throw their rubbish through the ring into the net while they’re on the move, which is good for the environment and results in a lot of fun. Also when people miss their one-chance shot, at least all dirt is collected at one spot. If I were the Mayor of Marseille I would commission The Wa to transform all trash bins in the city into these smart basket bins.
The Wa is a guerrilla artist who uses the tool of art for more justice and the ideal of a free space for discussion concerning cultural hegemony. While doing his work as a street artist, The Wa claims to have a single sentence by Pierre Bourdieu in his mind: “Democracy is the balance between people who have power and those who fight against them”. The Wa obviously belongs to the second group. His work can be considered as a mixture between avant-garde art and a subversive intervention.
Michael Leung is an artist, educator, urban bee-carer and everything in between. While being a designer and lecturer, he also channels his energy into building community resilience by engaging and supporting local food and production.
An augmented reality exhibition along the River Thames transforms London’s public space into a COVID-proof digital museum.
Dive in, and take inspiration from the initiatives making urban swimming a reality across the globe.