About a year ago, I had this idea to host a workshop that acts as an inclusive space for people of all backgrounds to create, whether they are new to making art, a student, a professional, or just someone who wants to try something fun with art. I imagined this workshop in my head; it almost felt like a fantasy. We often feel as though our ideas are mere fantasies when we have no idea how to even come close to getting there.
I wanted to host this workshop using recycled materials. I wanted to find a solution to my never-ending problem of hoarding random things at home that I don’t need or use anymore and have succumbed to collecting dust in a random corner. As an artist, I feel a sense of guilt in consuming and throwing things away and contributing to a never-ending cycle of consumption. My art practice is heavily involved in using different types of materials. I use different types of mediums and tools, and I think that I have some accountability to hold in taking care of where these materials go and what happens when I throw things away. I wanted to find a solution to avoid throwing materials away immediately after we’ve decided we don’t need them anymore.
Therefore, sometime in September 2025, I felt this need to take action. I spoke to people in the creative industry, people who have hosted events and exhibitions and have years of experience. I asked for advice on what I can do to make this workshop plan of mine feasible.
Apparently other artists and creative studios also have a lot of materials that they can recycle. With the help of artists and art studios, I’ve collected recycled materials that can be used to create art for my workshop. We used recycled paper, fabric, and used canvases to create mixed media art. This was a fully experimental art workshop, and we’re so glad it turned out to be an inclusive space for everyone who simply wants to enjoy the process of art-making!
With the help of the nonprofit organization Bad Times Disco and Hechyeomoyeo, we hosted this Sustainable Art Workshop on the 30th of November. This workshop was also able to coordinate funds for the Living Wage Campaign, in solidarity with migrant workers in Hong Kong.
