‘Cloud’ made from empty recycled plastic water bottles with an interactive lighting element, communicates to the audience the environmental impact of plastic waste and prompts commentary on consumerism in contemporary society.

Given that the bottles were originally containers for water, the artwork symbolises the importance of water conservation and the global issue of access to clean water.

From an artistic perspective, creating a cloud from recycled plastic bottles allows the exploration of form, texture, and structure. The making involves community participation such as collection drives and a collaborative creation process.

This process of transforming discarded plastic bottles into a sculptural piece symbolises renewal and transformation, reflecting the potential for waste materials to be given new life as something beautiful and meaningful.

The ‘Cloud’ creative team of Elgin Rust, Jane Appleby, Duncan Greenwood and Michael Methven hopes to challenge viewers to rethink their relationship with plastic waste and encourage them to envision a more sustainable future.

Elgin Rust explores social themes through printmaking, sculpture and installations in her #truththroughplay works. Her pieces feature in notable collections such as Ellerman House and Sanlam.

www.elginrust.com | Instagram: @elginruststudio)

Jane Appleby creates paintings using handmade botanical pigments and inks. Her work has expanded into public sculptural installations focusing on community engagement and recycled materials. www.jane-appleby.com | Instagram: @boo_appleby

Duncan Greenwood founded Flow DNA in 2014, gaining international recognition for flow arts props, especially fire fans. His designs blend traditional craftsmanship with technology, creating LED props responsive to movement and sound. https://flowdna.co.za | Instagram: @flowdna_arts

Additional Support: Sage Botanicas, a wizard based in Cape Town, is on a mesmerising journey into analogue synthesiser music and interactive art installations. Instagram: @saaa__ge