In a world of over-consumption, where the lifespan of everyday items keeps shrinking, a new art form has arrived that offers much-needed beauty, breathes new life into discarded objects, and delivers a powerful message about sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The Japanese cherish this practice, which is known as “Kintsugi” and is all about repairing broken or chipped pottery by sticking it back together using a gold or silver lacquer. It is all about the beauty of broken things and is part of a wider Japanese philosophy, Wabi-Sabi, which highlights the perfection of imperfection and the acceptance that everything, as the ancient Greeks used to say, is impermanent and in a state of flux.
The Japanese take this one step further, honoring through Kintsugi all those items that have served us, but have either broken or lost their luster.
This is exactly what Greek artist Iordanis Poimenidis has been doing for the past 20 years. The modern Western term used to describe this creative endeavor is “upcycling”, and this emerging artistic movement focuses on the transformation of trash into treasured art.
To Vima International Edition spoke with Poimenidis about his art and its message.
Greek artist Iordanis Poimenidis in action.
A New Lease of Life
Poimenidis was born in Katerini, in Northern Greece. Today, he lives at Korinos, a seaside town of some 3,000 inhabitants near Pieria. It was a clock made from recycled materials in a friend’s shop that first inspired him. Days later, he began experimenting, trying to convert “old, retired or useless objects” into artworks that have both aesthetic and ecological significance.
The 55-year-old self-taught artist has been crafting impressive sculptures using discarded metal, iron and plastics since 2004. He is fortunate enough to have seen one of his works adorning the central square of his hometown.
Creative Recycling
For Poimenidis, recycling goes beyond functionality; it preserves memories and traditions tied to tools crafted by artisans of another era. “Creative recycling breathes life into all those ‘useless tools and objects’ created by amazing craftsmen in the past; items that helped humanity get through tough times. They are bearers of the traditions, memories, and stories of the people who used them in their daily lives,” he tells To Vima International Edition.
“By creating works of art out of recycled and reused objects, I feel that I am paying a small tribute to all those obscure artisans and their wonderful, handmade creations, which our generation has thrown away too easily,” he says.
Once an axe blade now a granny. Work by Iordanis Poimenidis.
Poimenidis’ art works are made of discarded objects, mostly tools, which also speak loudly about the need to rethink the way we live our lives.
“Today, climate change reminds us of the need to reuse materials. It’s a healthier and less wasteful process that conserves our planet’s resources,” he adds.
Looking Beyond the Obvious
Though not formally trained, Poimenidis draws on his early experience of working in a smithery. For him, each item he selects is “destined to become art.” He explains that, unlike other materials which artists can craft into whatever springs to mind, in the case of trash, the artist must allow the item to guide their vision.
“It is very important to be able to envision the work as you observe the object. The material will always show you the way. The artist, especially in recycled art, does not have the luxury of generating work, they simply ‘perceive’. They are composers of sorts rather than creators per se,” he says.
Some of his more inventive works include a bird crafted from the plastic body of a broken garden tool. “Plastic cannot be welded, so I had to make a metal frame hidden within the plastic and attach the legs and head to that.”
His subjects vary widely, from figures and animals to vessels and even religious themes. But all are in a style the internationally acclaimed Greek sculptor Theodoros Papagiannis described as being in the “vanguard of Greek sculpture.” Papagiannis is an Athens School of Fine Arts professor whose works include The Runners, installed at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
If Only Trash Could Talk
Greek sculptor Iordanis Poimenidis crafts a beautiful ballerina using recycled cutting blades for her dress.
Poimenidis spends much of his day in and around archaeological sites. He works for the Pieria Ephorate of Antiquities. How much does his job influence his art? “The truth is, I didn’t use to think it did. But over time I realized that my job is an important source of inspiration. My daily contact with ancient masterpieces is the best sculpting lesson I can get before heading to my workshop. It has definitely influenced me,” he admits.
When asked about the message of his works, Poimenidis said that, first and foremost, he wants to motivate people into going beyond appearances – not only in materials but in themselves also. “Just as recycled items can become art, so we can remember that we, too, are works of art.”
He also hopes to challenge people into doing their part to make this world a better place and into being able to see their truth and express it.
Looking ahead, Poimenidis plans to organize a solo exhibition and a recycling art event in Katerini. His works can be seen at the Theodoros Papagiannis Museum of Contemporary Art in Elliniko near Ioannina in Epirus, and at his workshop in Korinos, Katerini.
