Graduation project
Abandoned treasures
Dario Erkelens
Sculptural furniture made of abandoned material explores the creative potential of what is perceived as ‘trash’.
“Trash for you is a treasure for me”, says Dario Erekelens, who originates from a less densely populated area in Switzerland and was surprised and intrigued by the amount and variation of abandoned objects and materials that he could find in Dutch cities. With a long-time preference for recycling and repurposing materials, he found an irresistible need to collect these ‘abandoned treasures’ and give them a new purpose. His approach comes down to exploring and redefining the hidden beauty within these found objects, resulting in the creation of sculptural pieces of furniture for a bar-restaurant. Ultimately, these sculptures are meant to question and raise awareness about our current throw-away society.