Young Artist Transforms Discarded Materials into Meaningful Art at San Francisco Exhibition

 

Miguel Arzabe, a budding artist, found inspiration in art shows across the United States, particularly drawn to exhibit catalogues. These documents sparked his creativity, leading him to craft his own art pieces from the catalogues themselves. By cutting the pages into thin strips and weaving them into an intricate Andean tapestry named Last Weaving, Arzabe aimed to create a timeless work of art, which he completed in 2018.

Before this, he had experimented with making similar tapestries using old movie posters and pamphlets. Initially struggling to find buyers for his unique creations, Arzabe contemplated abandoning his artistic pursuits. However, his work, which harmoniously blends ancient patterns with contemporary materials, eventually captured the attention of the art market.

This month, Arzabe’s Last Weaving is featured prominently at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in San Francisco as part of The Poetics of Dimensions, an exhibition showcasing art made from found and discarded objects—ranging from plastic bags to shoelaces. Larry Ossei-Mensah, the show’s curator, emphasizes the transformative power of these materials, stating that the artists have “alchemized” them to prompt viewers to reflect on consumerism and the potential for art to rejuvenate discarded items.

Initially planned for a different venue, the exhibition found a new home in the Cube, a historic former bank building in downtown San Francisco that had been vacant due to the rise of remote work among the city's tech workforce. The move was made just weeks before the opening, showcasing the artworks in a space that enhances their narrative of repurposing found objects.

Alison Gass, the museum’s director, expressed the intention behind the exhibition: “We want to help viewers navigate the world through artistic practice.” As the artwork was unpacked, visitors encountered a diverse array of pieces, including a large abstract painting by Anthony Akinbola, crafted entirely from durags stitched together.

The exhibition not only explores the aesthetics of waste but also highlights the often-overlooked lives of waste collectors. For instance, Los Angeles artist Huge McCloud’s work depicts waste pickers and porters from around the globe, illustrating their struggles through powerful imagery. McCloud's journey took him to places like Mumbai, where he observed the extensive use of plastic sacks in daily life. He began collecting these sacks from his travels to various countries and repurposed them into art, effectively combining color and texture to create poignant pieces.

Arzabe's work, in particular, is a critique of the Bay Area’s tech-centric culture. He noted, “So much money was going towards creating newer and more complex technology. I wanted to show that complexity and value could be created through humble materials.”

The Poetics of Dimensions is on display at the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Francisco from October 25 through February 23, 2024. The exhibition invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with waste and consumer culture through the lens of innovative artistic practices.