A teacher-turned-businessman is now a waste artist who develops his artworks from single-use plastic, one he considers poison to the barely breathing earth.
With the massive amount of waste generated by people each year, it is expected that by 2050 the earth is on its knees, begging and suffering. Post-consumer waste artist Gilbert Calderon Angeles found a new way to reduce plastic waste and turn it into awe-inspiring works of art.
Pinned on his wall is a huge, unusual painting, a kind that is not typically housed in museums. On his face a shy smile that crinkled his eyes is plastered, Gilbert’s eagerness to share his newly-found craft can be felt.
It all started when Gilbert was working in 2018 under Green Antz Builders, a Bulacan-based supplier of eco-bricks, building materials, and housing solutions partnered with eco-friendly practices and green technologies.
Disheartened by how he witnessed the waste collection system of the construction company, trucks overfilled with wastes collected, he asked himself how he could lend a helping hand.
From the shredded plastics where the eco-bricks are made of, Gilbert got struck by a new idea. He mixed the shredded single-use plastics with paint. He laid his fingers on the paint and noticed its good wafer-like consistency and insulating component. And that was when what he calls “eco-paint” was born.
Without wasting any second, he immediately grabbed his brush and canvas, spread his paint and a unique art style was discovered.
His hands were indeed a big help.
He then called his first painting Palahaw ni Inang Dagat (Cry of the Mother Ocean) that became a finalist for a national competition.
In his head sparked another fresh, green idea. From what Gilbert observed with the eco-paint he created, he established Green Artz - a community-based movement promoting environmental awareness through visual arts.
Moreover, he affirmed that the creation of the movement was no accident.
“Nagsimula ito sa pangarap na pangalagaan ang kapaligiran,” Gilbert added. “Through art bakit hindi natin buksan ang kamalayan o kaisipan ng mga kapwa natin.”
Furthermore, he maintained that everything is political, thus, his artworks have their own essence too. Gilbert wanted to influence others with his environmental advocacy - to actualize the goal of eliminating single-use plastics by finding “creative ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle these plastic wastes that are already in circulation.”
Gilbert stressed that one big problem before was the linear economy where raw materials are “reduced, extracted, processed then thrown away.” He was confident that what must be the trend today is a circular economy where products can be used again to minimize waste and maximize resources.
Aside from single-use plastics, Green Artz also makes use of other versatile materials like shredded fish nets, plastic bottles, tires, and fly ash.
Currently, the movement financially supports Ghost Artists, a newly-formed group of artists in Marikina City determined to promote awareness about the 2050 projection that ghost nets would be one major cause of the marine crisis.
Gilbert is currently the chief artist at Green Artz and he envisions it to be a “platform of collaboration.” He hopes to encourage other artists to align their works in helping to solve the problems.
Finding purpose
Although Gilbert finished Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, he did not travel directly towards the creative path.
He became a businessman. But it did not pan out well.
He became a teacher. Still, something was missing.
But when he placed his hands on the canvas and splashed paint all over it, he regained his first love instantly.
“Purpose.”
It was his purpose that drove him to get back with the thing he loved the most.
“Hinahanapan kasi natin ng purpose ang sarili natin,” Gilbert said. “Ang purpose ko pala ay maging isang advocate.”
For him, welcoming the tough things that enter life is a good way to learn. He believes that life is like a canvas that must be filled with marks, errors, and different colors for one to learn.
“Minsan ingat na ingat tayo na natatakot tayong masira, natatakot tayong madumihan. Hindi tayo matututo rito,” Gilbert said.
Similar to this, he also has advice for young artists.
“Kung magtuturo ako sa mga artist ngayon at kung pahahawakin ko sila ng puting-puting canvas, padudumihan ko muna sa kanila. Kung malinis na papel ‘yan, ipalulukot ko sa kanila. Ngayon dahil lukot na sila, ngayon magsimula kayong mag-drawing o magpinta. Iingatan mo pa ba ‘yan kung lukot na?”
Committing mistakes is nothing to be afraid of because, in the end, you will still create an amazing piece of art.
And once the time of success comes, he also has words to say. His favorite masterpiece from his collection, Stillness, inspired by the Fall of David who in his success had a woman named Bathsheba who caused his downfall, tells that no matter how high you reach in life you must remain your feet on the ground.
Gilbert organized an art exhibit called Of Art and Wine where 23 of his paintings are displayed. The artworks symbolize that we can make a new earth, new life, and new hope only when we take extra and creative efforts to be more considerate of the environment. The gallery is open in Conrad Manila to everyone until July 8th.
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