WWW (World Map) 2008

This world map was pieced together by Vik Muniz using found materials. At first glance, the gray and white blocks form continents and islands, a process of accumulation resulting in the appearance of landmasses. The individual pieces, on closer inspection, are revealed to be trash. The texture is determined by the objects themselves; paper, plastic, metal scraps create a topography of varying heights and depths, which, from a distance, becomes a coherent form. Each object carries its own history. Every scrap of refuse has been used, discarded, and now repurposed to represent our world. Look at the way that individual elements accumulate to form larger recognisable shapes. In South America, the scraps are small and numerous, whilst in Asia, larger more cuboid forms dominate. Muniz, like many artists, draws attention to the way we see and understand the world, in this case literally, made from the waste we produce. Think of artists like Kurt Schwitters who collected trash to make collages, questioning the value we place on objects. It's a poetic and provocative piece, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of our planet.