DURBAN North resident Melanie Wilson is transforming thousands of recycled waste items into stunning kaleidoscopic works of art while also highlighting the threat of plastic to our oceans.
For Wilson, plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues facing the planet and she has spent her time scouring the beaches along the Durban coastline, from as far as Glenashley Beach on the north to Blue Lagoon (Durban) on the south for litter, in particular bottle tops and lighters.
She has collected more than 4 000 bottle caps and lighters that she’s found on the beaches in little over a year.
“In one walk I picked up close to 200 lighters alone, it’s staggeringly sad,” she exclaimed. “When I started picking up litter off the beaches during lockdown I noticed that much of what I was finding were plastic bottle tops and lighters. At the time I would collect them, wash them and place them in buckets but this year I wanted to make a statement piece, one that told a picture of the threats to our ocean and the environment at large.
“You’re bound to find more lighters near the river mouth. Most of them seem to come from upriver or are possibly washed down our stormwater drains before making their way onto beaches. I do scour the beaches further north but I’ve never found nearly as much as I have near the river mouth,” she said.
Wilson added she was hoping to approach lighter makers and soft drink companies in a bid to raise awareness and also change the way we discard our litter.
“When I conceptualised my artwork my plan was to approach lighter makers and soft drinks companies to show just how much of these items were on our beaches. I had formulated a plan on how I would display my pieces and it wasn’t until my husband brought home these large boards which he was hoping to use for a DIY project that my art took off the ground.
“He managed to get me 19 of these wooden boards and initially I stacked the lighters and bottle caps in rows of colours which was effective. However, I then worked out the geometry of making patterns and shapes which really brought the pieces to life. Ultimately though the main aim of my art pieces was to raise awareness on the threat of plastic to the world. I also hope this encourages others to pick up rubbish when they are at the beach. Even if I’m out with friends I always have a bag with me to collect rubbish off the beaches,” she said.
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
You can also sign up for news alerts on Telegram. Send us a Telegram message (not an SMS) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5532.
For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram
