Stephanie Syjuco created this project during a program at Recology, the municipal waste management company for the city of San Francisco. From the press release: “Stephanie Syjuco takes beloved archetypes of modernist furniture and reproduces them dump-style to explore a range of ideas related to production, consumption, class, and economies. . . . By exploring these forms, questions arise as to the original intent behind the designs and their meaning in today’s world where the clean lines of modern furniture often serve as signifiers of an affluent, idealized lifestyle. Using what she describes as a ‘shanty-like’ aesthetic, Syjuco’s reproductions are certainly not meant to fool anyone or be functional. Instead, they bring the sleek, modern ideal into collision with the scavenged and cobbled-together through the immediate use of materials in rudimentary constructions. The works speak to the shoddy materials and cheap labor used to produce affordable contemporary modern furniture, and like the remnants of a dying civilization, suggest societal and environmental collapse.” Read more about the project in the full press release, and learn about the unique artist residency program at Recology.

In the words of the artist: “What appears to be a large flea market sale of used car stereos, small electronic equipment, and other goods is, upon closer inspection, an installation consisting of digital prints cut and folded to create individual box shapes and flat-front objects, and papered with images of ‘actual’ electronics. The original images are gathered from online vendor sites such as Ebay and Craigslist (another source of illicit selling), and the snapshots people take of their items are downloaded and manipulated to ‘fit’ onto a lifesize paper model of the object. Since most images begin as low-resolution jpgs, blowing them up to ‘actual’ size creates a visual distortion of sorts. Stolen electronic goods can be found littering most flea markets, and in this particular work, the images I use create a second level of ‘stealing.’ Issues of bootlegging, counterfeiting, and copyright in the digital age are addressed in this work.” Syjuco’s interest in the issues raised by counterfeiting evolved into a series of interactive events and collaborative projects, including the Counterfeit Crochet Project described in thisshort video.

Are online auction and shopping websites like eBay and Craigslist good for the environment? By enhancing our ability to purchase pre-owned goods instead of new ones, these websites promote reuse and reduce the ecological footprint of our shopping habits. Read about eBay’s impact in this post from Greenbiz. As highlighted in Stephanie Syjuco’s work, however, these online markets also facilitate black markets, which can lead to very wasteful outcomes, as described in this article on the disposal of confiscated goods.

Stephanie Syjuco created this work using images from actual items listed on eBay. The work addresses the rapid obsolescence of electronics, a key driver of e-waste streams. Frequent changes in hardware and software have increased the velocity of obsolescence, and certain industries, such as the wireless industry, have contributed to the process by incentivizing frequent device upgrades. These trends have also fueled the growth of resale markets worldwide, which facilitate the reuse of products that are still useful. In some situations, however, impediments to repairing devices may limit the growth of these markets and contribute to the waste stream. Websites such as iFixit.com empower consumers to repair the devices they use, extending the life of those devices. But in some cases, manufacturers intentionally design products that are difficult or impossible to upgrade and repair. This form of planned obsolescence reduces the utility of goods and increases the environmental impact of their use. In thisshort video, for example, iFixit.com analyzes the Apple Watch and identifies several design attributes that prevent basic repairs.

In her sculptural installations, Stephanie Syjuco employs crude replicas of consumer goods to reveal the frictions of production, consumption and waste. If you are inspired by her work, you can take action in your own life. Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word. You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center. Let’s #EndOvershoot and save our #OneEarth.