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The óArt of Recycling Ahmad Nadalian During the past decade most of my artworks were site-specific works. They are typically widespread in both urban and natural environments. Sometimes they are located far away from cities and people. Some of my works are ephemeral and very process-oriented, so I generally document my site-specific works with photography, video, and descriptive text.
As an environmental artist I very much depend upon the Internet, as I publish the documentation of my work on the web. Many Iranian news agencies follow every detail of my artwork. In their reporting they describe the aim and concept of my works. Journalists who work for newspapers have interviewed me many times. These interviews are all printed in the newspapers, and large communities in Iran are familiar with my works. However, newspaper in Iran is not only for reading, as local people traditionally use them for a variety of other purposes. Instead of recycling them, the sellers of shops also use them to pack vegetables, foods and other goods such as fabrics. On many occasions newspapers are also used as tablecloths when the working class or students eat their meals. For some people it can be a sheet to cover a surface or shelf, or stuck on a window to hide an interior. Some housewives use them to clean windows - other people use them when they clean vegetable, fish, etc.
Consequently, newspapers in Iran have many alternative uses. They can be seen everywhere. People really “use” them beyond just reading their content. Occasionally I have found images of my artwork in newspapers wrapped around something. These moments inspired me to create new art works. I imagine the use of newspaper in my society and compose them with objects. Usually the objects combined with the image and the Persian texts beneath reveals new meaning and storytelling. I wish to recycle newspaper in this fashion and use them as a source to create new artwork and messages.
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