Filipino artist Gilbert Angeles is giving discarded waste a new life by incorporating materials ranging from shredded plastic to old paint and leftover construction wood in his paintings.

The artist sources the materials from around his Manila neighbourhood or through donations from contacts he has made since launching his environmental campaign in 2019.

He was spurred on to take up the project after seeing a news report about the Philippines being one of the top contributors of plastic waste.

Gilbert Angeles said: “I make these artworks to raise awareness so we can fight against the trash in our area, to make us more responsible in how we dispose of our trash, and to make us aware of where our trash goes.”

The Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China account for around 60% of the world’s marine plastic, or 8 million tonnes annually, according to a 2017 report from the Ocean Conservancy and the McKinsey Centre for Business and Environment.

Gilbert Angeles has made over two dozen paintings since launching his creative project in 2019. His artwork has been shown in galleries, with paintings selling for around $600 to $3,000, depending on the size. Part of the proceeds goes to his environmental group, Green Artz, which encourages artists to use recycled waste in their work.

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She writes about lifestyle including sustainable and green living.