A studio exploration of rubber dust waste from tyres as a surface for drawing

Abstract

The increase in population and urbanization of cities in Uganda has led to accumulation of Solid waste which consists of plastics, textile, glass, medical waste, metal and tyres among others. Recycling methods involving incineration of such waste are highly condemned by NEMA due to health risks that may arise from air and water pollution. A recent report on waste management around Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) in May 2023 by GIZ, a Germany development agency indicates that 50% of solid waste around Kampala is uncollected or poorly disposed in unknown dump sites. Recycling methods involving art and craft practices such as material exploration may contribute towards combating poor waste disposal. This study investigated the possibilities of creating drawing surfaces out of rubber dust waste from tyres as an intervention into its poor disposal. The study was guided by three objectives; To establish the various sources leading to formation of rubber dust waste from tyres; To examine the extent to which artists have explored recycled surfaces for drawing and To produce drawing surfaces using rubber dust waste from tyres. The study adopted an exploratory research design guided by the theory of production with waste and recycling by Klaus Conrad (1997) using in-depth interviews, observation, literature review, photography and studio exploration methods to collect qualitative data. Fifteen respondents involving five casual workers from footwear cottages and ten year III students pursuing Bachelor of Art and Industrial Design were selected using purposive sampling technique to participate in this study. The findings revealed a variety of sources responsible for the production of rubber dust waste from tyres including road abrasion, tyre treading, and tyre manufacturing processes. This study was able to reveal that rubber dust waste from tyres can be manipulated to create drawing surfaces bearing different attributes such as thickness, colour, flexibility and texture as would be determined by the artist. The study recommended that artists should engage in recycling practices as an intervention into poor waste disposal and possibilities of exploring rubber dust as a drawing material to widen the scope of its reuse.