An installation entitled Lốc Xoáy (Tornado) at the opening of the Plastic Planet exhibition at the Vincom Centre for Contemporary Art on Friday. — Photo kenh14.vn

HÀ NỘI — A group of young artists from a social enterprise in Hà Nội have brought new life to tens of thousands of used plastic items and transformed them into impressive artworks which are on display at an ongoing exhibition in the capital.

Opened to the public at the Vincom Centre for Contemporary Art (VCCA) on Friday, the exhibition Plastic Planet presents a serious message about the environment, especially the harmful effects of plastic garbage.

The highlights of the exhibition are four large installation artworks, including Lốc Xoáy (Tornado) – a 4.5m high installation created from thousands of used plastic items.

Student Huy Trung said he felt overwhelmed standing in front of the work.

“There are many TV programmes about natural disasters, so I know how serious tornados and their deadly power can be. When I look at this work, I can imagine the similar devastation being caused by plastic use,” he said.

According to Trung, the message about the environment is made “visible” by the artwork.     

At the exhibition, visitors, especially children, have been attracted by a vivid “aquarium”.  A whole ocean with sea creatures such as octopus, lionfish and horse fish all made from used plastic bags can be seen here.

The work, Cánh Đồng (The Field), which was created from thousands of plastic straws, and life-sized statues of a couple, which has been name Family, are other attractions at the exhibition.

The exhibition also offers a chance for visitors to interact using other senses.

At the “Secret Box” section, visitors can touch screens to listen to the sound of water pouring into a sea of plastic bottles or to see how quick plastic garbage destroys the eco-system.  

At the “Safe Zone” section, children present their angle on nature and the environment through cute and colourful paintings.

Months before the exhibition, in order to have enough materials for the artworks, the exhibition’s initiator, Tò He – a Vietnamese social enterprise that provides a creative learning playground for disadvantaged children to play and learn in a different academic setting, called on people to donate used and clean plastic bags. In exchange, every donor would receive a small potted plant. The “green proramme” has been supported by many people.

The free entry exhibition is open daily from 10am to 10pm until August 18. The VCCA is at Level B1, Block R3, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, 72A Nguyễn Trãi Road, Thanh Xuân District, Hà Nội.

During the exhibition, VCCA will also host several educational activities targeting children. The activities include mini concert, environment-themed workshops and exhibition tours for children. — VNS