Ahmet Civelek and Mathias Kessler
In September 2024, artists Mathias Kessler and Ahmet Civelek will embark on a thought-provoking journey to Adnan, a Turkish town near the Syrian border, one of many destinations for European plastic waste. The mission? To shed light on the environmental and political consequences of Europe’s waste export practices, specifically the significant amounts of plastic shipped to Turkey.
Over the past few years, Turkey has become a major recipient of European plastic waste, with 28% of the EU’s plastic exports now directed to the country—an equivalent of 659,960 tons annually. Much of this waste remains unprocessed, creating environmental hazards and highlighting the failures of Europe’s recycling system. While the EU recycles “good waste” within its borders, the less manageable waste is outsourced to countries like Turkey, leading to illegal dumping and unchecked pollution.
Mathias Kessler and Ahmet Civelek’s project aims to transform this narrative. During a one-week public performance at OG Gallery, Istanbul, which will be led by Christina Elsaesser, in conjunction with Ahmet Civelek and Mathias Kessler they will collaborate with hired local artisans and volunteers to collect discarded plastic waste and turn it into art. Their creative process will include weaving carpets and crafting sculptural objects from the collected materials, referencing iconic artworks such as Jeff Koons’ ‘Balloon Dog’ to emphasize the ready-made nature of their creations.
The Art of Turning Trash into Meaningful Objects
By reclaiming waste from European sources and using it to produce aesthetic objects, the artists challenge the viewer to reconsider the journey of discarded materials. The weaving of carpets will serve as both a literal and symbolic act – intertwining the threads of environmental degradation, industrial production, and the outsourcing of Europe's waste problems to developing countries like Turkey.
This project seeks to expose the reality behind Europe’s waste disposal practices. Instead of confronting the environmental harm caused by single-use plastics, countries outsource the problem, often resulting in an environmental disaster for developing nations. In a poetic reversal, the trash will now travel back to Europe, re-entering the consumer cycle as art, and serving as a commentary on the interconnectedness of waste, consumer culture, and global exploitation.
Exhibitions in Istanbul and Vienna
The art created during the performance will be showcased at the Austrian Cultural Institute in Istanbul on November 28, 2024, accompanied by a documentary film capturing the entire process. Following this, the artworks will find there way back to it origin, to Europe, where they will be displayed as part of the Climate Dignity Project at the Künstlerhaus in Vienna on February 28, 2025. Just as the plastic waste traveled from Europe to Turkey, these reimagined objects will return as artifacts – now not as waste, but as objects of cultural and environmental significance.
Join the Performance
We invite the public to participate in this unique art intervention at OG Gallery, Istanbul. Christina Elsaesser, Ahmet Civelek and Mathias Kessler welcome locals and visitors to join them in weaving, sculpting, and repairing furniture made from reclaimed plastic. Together, we will explore creative solutions to the global waste crisis and reimagine the future of plastic.
