Sustainable Art by Charles Osawa

Sustainable Art by Charles Osawa

Message From the Artist 

My effort is to preserve our culture forever. Archaeologists learn about ancient civilizations often from trash. I wonder what part of us would be remembered when all of us will be gone. I wonder if we can preserve something other than trash. People often do not have choices. We are often left with products that are one-time use and no one to blame. Sometimes memories are tainted with pain. I wonder if I can preserve it and make it beautiful. So we can get over our painful memories.

We are all surrounded by contradictions. Making art is one such act of mankind. Are we making trash, or something pretty? Either way it is non-functional. So I wonder how much of our art will be preserved. I make trash beautiful again. Because it represents us. All of what we produced, including things such as medical wastes, are part of us. It shows our intellectualism, manifestation and humanity. I make it pretty so we won’t forget.

 

Who Is Charles Osawa

Charles Osawa

Charles Osawa is an architect, photographer, designer, and fine artist, from Los Angeles, C.A. Charles obtained his BFA in Architectural Design at the Parson School in New York City. As an Architect and Design consultant, he has worked on the 2013 and 2015 Tokyo International Photo Festival, Ricoh’s flagship “Ring Cube” photo gallery in Tokyo, and "Andy Warhol “15 minutes-Eternal,” “Essential Eames,” "Magnum Photos exhibition" at the Singapore ArtScience Museum. Further into his career, Charles utilized his architectural eye in photographer, production manager and PA; assisting in shoots for high profile magazines like Flaunt, Elite Traveler and Bloomberg Business, as well as shooting New York's Fashion Week. Since relocating back to Los Angeles in 2017, Charles' energy has primarily been focused on creating a revolutionary art form, that turns trash into collectible treasures. 

Standardized Trash Sculptures 

Charles' sculptures undergo an identical creation process in the beginning that is revised over time. The process of reshaping, redefining and simplifying the mold, allows Charles the ability to mass produce his creations for a wider audience. 

Charles Osawa artwork
"We are what we eat, but what about the food wrapper? What about all the trash? Where do they come from and where do they go? I trap them like future fossils for our generations to keep."  ~ Charles Osawa

Conclusion

Charles Osawa’s dynamic aesthetic and environmental sensibilities clearly are a culmination of his LA upbringing, Japanese heritage and travels across the world. His use of shapes are reminiscent of garbage cubes out of a compactor; splashed with radical waves of vibrant trash. I also found myself hypnotized by the icy blue composite, fusing each capsule in motionless motion. The future looks promising with people like Charles out here; turning trash into treasure, and that treasure into history. 

 

Photos

Charles Osawa artwork
Charles Osawa artwork
Charles Osawa artwork 

Charles Osawa artwork
 
Charles Osawa artwork
Charles Osawa artwork

Charles Osawa artwork

Contact Charles: 

Source: 

VoyageLA: Interview with Charles Osawa

Calrecycle: California's 2016 Per Capita Disposal Rate Estimate 

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