Waste as an Object of Artistic Creation

Waste as an Object of Artistic Creation

by Edoardo Malagigi

Through three public site-specific art pieces, artist Edoardo Malagigi invites the community of Agrigento to reflect on their relationship with waste and its potential for transformation into something meaningful. The project will unfold in various phases, accompanying the creation of the works with moments of reflection and community engagement.

In March, the work Tempio di Tetrapak, inspired by the columns of the Temple of Concordia, will consist of three columns made from modules obtained from used Tetrapak cartons. The polychromatic surface of the columns, with various packaging brands still visible, will highlight the importance of local contributions to the project. The installation, in a location yet to be revealed, will serve as a focus for workshops and seminars on sustainability and climate change.

In April, End Game, one of Malagigi's central works, will take shape. The sculpture will depict a large anti-militarist Pinocchio made of recycled plastic. Thanks to collaboration with local companies, this figure, created using 3D printing techniques, will have a surface decorated with raised images of weapons. The figure of Pinocchio, seated and tired, will become a symbol of criticism against war, lies, and fake news, evoking reflections on truth and peace. The work will be installed in Piazza Pirro Marconi, the square of Agrigento Central Station, becoming a point of dialogue and awareness for the community.

The following month, the artist will create Siamo Tutti Migranti, a symbolic and evocative sculpture addressing the universal theme of migrations. The sculpture will be a three-meter-diameter sphere, constructed from wood salvaged from shipwrecks that arrived in Lampedusa. These materials, curved like boat hulls, will be assembled with visible screws, highlighting their origin and story. The internal structure, made of steel rod, will support the sphere, which will be positioned on a corten base in Piazza Pirandello. The work will invite visitors to reflect on shared humanity and the impact of migrations.

All the works will not only be aesthetic objects but catalysts for dialogue and participation. During the creation phases, schools and local communities will be involved in educational workshops and collaborative activities. These moments will allow for a deeper understanding of sustainability and reuse, demonstrating how art can be a powerful tool for inspiring positive changes.

With these three works, Agrigento 2025 will transform into a place of reflection and dialogue, promoting fundamental values such as peace, solidarity, and respect for the environment.

Do you know the artist?

Edoardo Malagigi has created site-specific works in Brighton, Pula (Sardinia), Florence, Belgrade, Tokyo, Genoa, Bucharest, Okinawa, and Kikinda. He has held workshops and lectures on the relationship between art and design in Tokyo, Munster, Havana, Lugano, Seoul, Lisbon, Boston, Freiburg, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sofia, Okinawa, Kabul, Beijing, Prishtina, Shanghai, and Cairo. He is an Advisory Board Member of the Center for Contemporary Art of Afghanistan (CCAA). He was the art director of the "Children in Emergency" foundation in Romania. His installations and works have been featured in exhibitions such as: the Quadrennial of Rome, Arte Bari Expo, Venice Biennale, Municipal Gallery of Modern Art in Bologna, Triennale di Milano, Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara, Luigi Pecci Contemporary Art Center in Prato, Sensus Contemporary Art in Florence, and Abaco Space Contemporary Art in Berlin.