From a young age I have always exhibited tendencies towards collecting. This has developed over the years into a fascination with refuse and those who utilise what others discard. From Robert Rauschenberg, to food-for-homeless programs, to hard-rubbish collection, to dumpster diving (and even to boll wevils), I find those who reuse what others designate as waste inspiring and most resourceful survivers.
Recently, I have been reading Mongo: Adventures in Trash (see this book review),
There is a particular aesthetic of this subcultural movement, and a variety of political motivations – for some, its simply out of necessity (homeless, poor, students); others its a way-of-life (a reaction against consumer capitalism).
Hard rubbish collections have been particularly fruitful resource for me over the years – this year, I have recently picked up some wonderful chairs that I will repair over summer. A couple of years ago I found a great block-mounted poster of Elvis (although I am not a fan of Elvis, i had to have it). It always amazes me what people throw out.
The 3-man theatre company, The Suitcase Royale (see photos below) claim that every single piece of their set and all of their props have been found through hard rubbish collections. (Incidentally, these guys produce superb, original theatre).
Understandably, I was completely inspired when I saw The Gleaners and I (Les Glaneurs et la glaneuse) (France 2000 Agnes Varda). [Check out this interesting review at Senses of Cinema]
The legalities (and consequently the politics, or vice-versa) behind gleaning are quiet interesting. For example, local councils make it very clear that those who “glean” from hard-rubbish collections are “stealing” council property. The policing and enforcement of these sorts of laws are far too costly and time consuming anyways; and I would think that most people would be happy for their discards to find new homes and new uses where possible, so long as the gleaners dont make a mess.
Its amazing that dumpster diving is considered such a political statement really….
