NIGERIA – Nigerian environmental artist Konboye Ebipade Eugene is giving piles of discarded flip-flops a second life as colourful mosaic portraits.
As part of his creative process, Eugene sifts through piles of abandoned shoes, picking out objects by colour before cutting them into tiny bits. He then carefully assembles these bits into intricate portraits, using only the original colours of the rubber and plastic, without painting anything on them.
“The kind of art that I create is environmentally driven; it is also a way for me to raise awareness about this situation where people can actually see and understand how much of this material we actually use,” Eugene said. “Cleaning up the dirt from the environment and making it something useful for people to put into their homes is definitely a good thing.”
Material selection is part of Eugene’s artistic approach, blending accessibility and symbolism. “One, this material is very accessible in the environment. Two, this material is also very symbolic,” Eugene commented.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the portraits carry a crucial message about Nigeria’s mounting waste crisis. According to a UNIDO report, the nation generates an estimated 32 million tonnes of solid waste each year, including around 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste.
Appreciation for his art has not only motivated him but also inspired him to continue his noble quest. “I have always been receiving positive feedback on my work, and this always inspires me to create more.”
View the full video report below
[This current affairs report item is provided as part of Broadcast Media Africa (BMA)’s mandate to keep Africa’s broadcast media audiences and stakeholders informed on international developments in local and global humanitarian and public service broadcasting.]
