Blantyre-based visual artist Chisomo Lifar has embarked on a project of turning waste into art as part of waste management.
The youthful artist went on an assignment that saw him creating close to 25 pieces before making another move to hold an exhibition at Jacaranda Cultural Centre (JCC) in Blantyre.
The exhibition, themed Creating Awareness on Waste Management through Art, officially opened on Saturday afternoon and will end on September 25.
However, only a few people turned up for the launch.
Despite this, the few that showed up appreciated the amazing work by Lifar and the important subject he had tackled.
In fact, two of his works sold during the official opening.
The official opening was exceptional as Lifar, using a machine, showed how he turns trash into art.
Lifar demonstrated this through use of plastic papers to create the artwork of an elephant.
“This is a sculpture of an elephant. It is work in progress but this is one of the techniques I use to turn waste into art. As an artist, I have a duty to tackle issues affecting the community. The issue of waste management is big in the country and this is one of the solutions,” he said.
The visual artist, holding his first solo exposition at JCC, also demonstrated how he creates artworks from old magazines and newspapers and one of the creations included Nelson Mandela.
There were also portrait pieces on display, done by pencil, of former president Joyce Banda and her husband former chief justice Richard Banda and activist Rafiq Hajat.
From glass bottles, Lifar, who has exhibited in other platforms, creatively made a flower vase.
JCC Director Luc Deschamps hailed Lifar for the exhibition saying it is vital and tackling an important issue affecting the country.
“This is amazing for Lifar and, being his first time to exhibit as a solo artist, he has done well. We have seen young people taking a lead role in issues to do with the environment, which is good, and art is leading in all this.
“We recently also saw Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife hiking to Mulanje as part of awareness,” Deschamps said.
