What’s art got to do with it?
Art, in all forms, is to me, the expression of life. Sustainability, the pursuit of consciously living and preserving life in all formats. In some ways, they are one in the same.
So, I took to art for inspiration only to find the launch of Midlands Arts Centre’s newest exhibition. Waste age: What can design do?
The new exhibition brings together a group of new generation designers reimagining how we interact with the objects that fill our daily lives. From food to fashion, buildings and tech, these innovators explore the challenge of the waste age.
As we face the growing challenges of climate change and resource depletion, this new wave of designers is offering hope and practical solutions, that could pave the way into a circular economy. Their work is a reminder that design, when approached with intention and creativity, can be a powerful force for positive change.
I spoke to Lizzie Moran from Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) to ask her more:
Can you tell me a bit more about the thought behind the exhibition and how it was put together with sustainability in mind:
Waste Age: What can design do? is a touring exhibition that originally came from the Design Museum, London. It has toured from its home in London, to Paris, Hong Kong and finally, here in Birmingham. MAC is actually the only UK touring venue, which is very exciting. It’s one of the largest exhibitions we have ever done in terms of the number of pieces too, so our curators here have made it fit and fill MAC’s space. We have always kept sustainability as a core purpose since 2012, and this exhibition has been in the planning for almost 3 years!
What can people expect when they come to visit the exhibition:
When people visit MAC, they often realise we are not just an exhibition venue. We are lively and busy, with so much going on all around the centre. The exhibition itself spans across four different galleries to capture its size, and everything is colour coded with the themes each piece takes. In the exhibition itself you will not only see the incredible pieces but also be able to read some really interesting pieces of information that inspired them. I can definitely say it is eye-opening about the waste we produce, but also it is inspiring to see so much can be created from it.
And it’s not only the Waste Age exhibition they can see, we also have a locally created exhibition in our Community Gallery: Rubbish Redesigned. In this exhibition, local businesses and designers from Birmingham showcase what they have redesigned their waste into, promoting a creative circular economy.
And finally, how and when can we see exhibitions at MAC?
You can catch Waste Age from Sat 26 October 2024 to Sun 23 February 2025 at MAC in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham. And on how you get to MAC, we’d really encourage people to find a sustainable way to travel here. We’re on the bus route and on many cycle routes.
We really enjoyed chatting with Lizzie on Waste Age’s residence at MAC and recommend immersing yourself in the world of Art. The exhibition adopts a pay-what-you-choose fee and viewing times are from 11am-5pm every day of the week.
You can learn even more and book a time slot on MAC’s website here: https://macbirmingham.co.uk/exhibitions/waste-age-what-can-design-do