Recycled materials will take the center stage of a Taiwanese art exhibition held in Westwood Village of Los Angeles to commemorate Earth Day 2017.
Artist Yang Chin-chih (楊金池) has coined the word "trashion” - a portmanteau of trash and fashion - to describe the process of transforming excess waste into drastically new forms. Through combining found materials with other salvaged parts, such as wires and electronics, he creates not only installations with distinct texture and meaning, but wearable pieces he utilizes for his other disciplines.
"Rejuvenate x Illuminate: Art & Trashion by Yang Chin-chih” is divided into two related groups of works - Rejuvenated Fashion, a series of alternative fashion pieces weaved from discarded aluminum cans, and Light of Life, an array of light installations constructed from a variety of disposed materials. The eight featured installations will also be accompanied by a video reel documenting his previous works.
The Banqiao-born artist has also been invited to perform an interactive performance piece titled "The Trash Man” at the Earth Day LA 2017 event in Grand Park on April 19, and then at Manhattan Beach on April 22 to promote his brand of environmental activism.
In his interactive performances, Yang often employs bizarre body language and outlandish physical presence to convey humor and irony. Original pieces like "The Trash Man” address contemporary cultural phenomena related to topics like pollution, isolation, and intolerance.
For a glimpse of the New York-based artist's "recycled” works - including meticulously weaved "trashion” pieces and mesmerizing light sculptures - visit the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles between April 21 and June 16.
Earth Day is celebrated annually around the world by eco-minded activists on April 22.
‘Rejuvenate x Illuminate'