UPCYCLE: THE DOCUMENTARY

The fourth installment of Waterfront Toronto’s temporary floating art project, Upcycle by artist Javid Jah was installed in Harbour Square Basin from June-September 2024. The piece explores our connections to nature through water, investigating environmental and spiritual impacts. The work’s glowing cylindrical form is made up of 456 re-used plastic water bottles grouped in clusters of 6 bottles which form a star pattern. Inside the bottles are crowd-sourced stories of people’s connections to water, which can be accessed via Upcycle web app at upcycle-toronto.com.

Thank you to all the people involved and their hard work in bringing this engaging work to life. It was a pleasure to see it on the waterfront and explore our relationship to water through art, stories, and community.

Waterfront Toronto’s Temporary Public Art Program provides a platform for artists to experiment and push creative boundaries and acts as a catalyst for community dialogue and connection. By addressing timely issues and reflecting local narratives, these projects facilitate conversations among residents, fostering a sense of community ownership and pride in public spaces.

CREDITS:
Video Creation: Edison Javier Dueñas, The Edisons
Words by Anishinaabe Knowledge Practitioner, Dr. Debby Wilson Danard
Web App: Bioimmersive
Fabrication: Alex Akbari, Qube Inc
Community Liaison: Mia-Skye Sagara
Project Assistant: Aleem Wonka Velji, Stillkids