Mona Lisa recreated from recycled waste
Muizenberg artist Gavin Larkin has given Leonardo da Vinci a run for his money by recreating the Renaissance artist’s Mona Lisa from things that end up in the trash.
For his exhibition, A Mona Lisa - The Art of Upcycling, at the Youngblood Africa gallery in Cape Town, Larkin has created a series of Mona Lisa portraits from plastic bottle caps, metal pull tabs and beverage cans.
"I noticed so much waste lying around the streets, parks, and beaches - particularly plastic bottle caps and beverage cans. That’s when I decided to start collecting these materials on a larger scale and use them creatively,“ says Larkin, who moved to Muizenberg’s Marina da Gama in 2021.
He started collecting plastic bottle caps six months ago, but soon realised he needed to speed things up and so paid homeless people around his gallery in Muizenberg’s Main Road to help him add to his collection.
It then took him two months to complete the series of four Mona Lisa portraits.
"I’ve always been fascinated by the process of creating fine art using waste materials. It’s not just environmentally relevant but also gives back to the community by providing income to those who help collect these materials.
"I wanted to portray the most famous artwork in the world, and the Mona Lisa seemed like the perfect subject for this.“
He says the public’s response to exhibition has been very positive.
"People were really amazed when they got up close and discovered what the actual medium was.
"I think the use of common waste items makes a significant difference in how people connect with the art.“
A graduate of Nelson Mandela University, where he studied art, graphic design, and photography, Larkin spent more than 30 years in the advertising industry before transitioning into fine art full-time three years ago.
His next exhibition will take place in Berlin, Germany, on Friday October 18, demonstrating his signature BlockBuster technique that uses pre-painted wooden blocks.
"It’s an exciting step for me and hopefully a gateway to further opportunities in Europe," he says.
