There is an old saying that, one man’s trash is a man’s treasure, and that saying has proven true for many of us throughout the years. One of the ways in which we see trash in many people’s eyes is through electronics. What was at one time brand-new and cutting-edge will soon be old and out to the curb. It doesn’t need to be that way.
The fact of the matter is, tons of trash from electronics enters into the landfills each and every day. That includes plastic, metals and in some cases, even chemicals. It is slowly destroying the ecosystem worldwide.
Fortunately, many people are learning about how to properly recycle and if possible, even to upcycle those items. Julie Alice Chapelle is one of those individuals.
Julie has a rather unique talent, and she uses her talent to create beauty and to help create awareness. She wants to make a dent in the electronic waste that is currently taking place and she turns to her art to do it.
When she finds old electronics, such as circuit boards, components and wires, she turns them into sculptures of insects. You will be amazed with what she is able to accomplish as you take a look through the pictures below.
Julie Alice Chapelle is a unique artist who creates small insect sculptures using bits and pieces out of old computers and other electronics.
They are affectionately referred to as “Computer Bugs.”
Everything about these sculptures is recycled from electronic components. Occasionally, she will use a tiny crystal for extra sparkle.
This is what can become of the inside of your electronic devices, such as your smartphone or computer.
Most people would agree that nature and the inside of a computer are quite different, but they seem to come together nicely here.
Chapelle sees patterns when she looks at electronics, and those complex patterns can mimic what we see in nature.
She first got the idea to do this a few years ago. While visiting a local materials exchange center, she saw many unwanted or unused items and thought she could put them to good use.
After picking up some electronic components, the wires immediately reminded her of ants. That is how Computer Bugs were born.
The computers that are used to design these beautiful bugs are simply put out to the curb or dumped. In other words, they really are garbage!
It does take a while to clean things up, but this artwork has a purpose.
“My collection highlights the dangers of planned obsolescence and the ever-increasing amounts of e-waste in the environment. My collection highlights the dangers of planned obsolescence and the ever-increasing amounts of e-waste in the environment”
She hopes to raise awareness of the dangers of electronic waste by showcasing these pieces. She wants to show how something as unwanted as an old piece of technology can actually intertwine with the natural world.
She also says that she is not against technology, she just wants people to know that it should be disposed of properly.
“They are my personal tribute to the wonders of modern technologies, [and] the decades of knowledge and passion passed down which led us to them.”
These sculptures mean something on a very deep level to Chapelle. Not only do they represent technology, they also represent human achievement.
By turning old computers into art, she wants to pay them homage for “their elegance and ingenuity encompassing the incredible technological aptitude and the imagination, talent, and beautiful creativity of the human race.”
Via: Little Things
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