Urban Trash Transformation

Upcycling Nordstadt

The “Urban Trash Transformation” project has its origins in Dortmund's Nordstadt district, where the waste problem is particularly visible. In order to meet this challenge creatively, used resources are used for artworks and workshops in addition to building materials. The project focuses on the interface between urban art, in particular the graffiti scene, and sustainability. Research will be carried out into which materials can be used and how sustainable work can be implemented in art. These findings are passed on to the next generation in a creative way.

The idea came from personal necessity

Project manager Hülya Özkan is a qualified illustrator and now a freelance artist. The idea for this project came from her own necessity. Working in large format with liquid paint was no longer possible due to lack of space. In addition, she had accumulated a lot of old clothes and had become more aware of her own waste production. So she began to see textiles as a kind of paint and began to paint with them. Over the course of time and while dealing with the problem of waste in workshops, Özkan experimented with different materials. Intuitively, she tried out plastic foil for the first time and quickly realized that the result had potential.

A series of workshops for children of primary school age has now been offered for the first time this spring and summer. The children brought along suitable waste, which they used to create figures with fabric remnants that were stabilized by hardening. They also carried out initial experiments for a garbage mobile. The reflection at the end was particularly exciting, as it showed that plastic, Tetrapaks and cardboard boxes were particularly popular in the implementation.

On display is a portrait photo of the artist and project manager Hülya Özkan.

Photo credits: Christian Nübling

Hülya Özkan can be seen creating a collage from plastic sheets.

Photo credits: Christian Nübling

Hülya Özkan holds a large collage made of plastic sheets up to the camera.

Photo credits: Christian Nübling

Art becomes art

Special attention is paid to the cooperation with the city of Dortmund, which provides graffiti services at the JKC Dortmund to offer young people a platform for urban art. As there are administrative challenges in obtaining permissions for different parts of the city quickly, flexible walls with plastic sheeting are used to ensure that all young people can be given access to the projects. The JKC team has already pushed for more sustainable alternatives in the past. Hülya Özkan and her team are working together to use as much plastic sheeting as possible for art purposes, which will ideally be permanently preserved. These plastic sheets are processed together with other plastic materials, such as those from packaging or carrier bags, to create collages. Used textiles and other small elements that accumulate during the manufacturing process are also integrated into the collages. The aim is to show that really all everyday materials can be incorporated into art and contribute to an aesthetic.

Both the artworks and the workshop results will be presented in an interactive exhibition at Dortmunder U, the project's cooperation partner, in March 2025. This will invite visitors to experience, play, be inspired, observe and reflect.