Plastic: Rebuilding our World

The Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia (MAAT) is hosting the exhibition Plástico: Reconstruir o Nosso Mundo [Plastic: Rebuilding Our World], an exhibition that makes us rethink the consumption of plastic. The unsustainable use of this material is common knowledge, but it seems that the curator, Must Anniina Koivu, has sought to go further to capture our attention around one message...

An exhibition that makes you rethink the consumption of plastic

On show until the August 28, from Wednesday to Monday, from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm, the show is organised in three sections, so that the viewer is caught up in a storyline, where plastic, in the space of 150 years, goes from revolutionary and progressive to lethal and superfluous. We are talking about 400 pieces exhibited in a sequential manner, both in video and image format, chosen and thought out during the pandemic period, by means of discussions held by video calls. From the collaboration between MAAT, the Vitra Design Museum and the V&A Dundee, comes an exhibition where everything has been handpicked. The display cabinets themselves are made from wood, steel and aluminium, and the use of plastic is avoided at all costs, although this has proved to be quite a challenge. Now that the introductions have been made, it’s time to understand the history, the harm and the impact of this artificial material, so seductive and dangerous at the same time. 
The experience begins when we allow ourselves to take a look around us. Within milliseconds, we become aware that we are surrounded by plastic, everywhere. We all know that this material has reached an environmentally damaging dimension, but what perhaps is not common knowledge is its origin and the development it has undergone through the decades. ‘Plastic: Rebuilding Our World’ unveils the silent, fast-moving path plastic has taken and, with the necessary precision, will show us the way to a more sustainable future. Asis Kahan is the person who marks the first impressions of the show. Via a video installation, we are presented with a prelude that summarises the last two billion years of the planet’s history. After nine minutes we are ready to leave the enigmatic black room and it is on the way out that we come across small objects that catch our attention. They are, in fact, innovative recycled items, devised by the Precious Plastic community. These items are certainly surprising, taking the form of keyboards made from Coca-Cola bottles or skateboards made from recycled plastic. Following the line of vision, we are persuaded by a space dedicated to experience. Before we try to put it to use, a brief explanation is given about its function. Now, to classify the different types of plastic there is a technique called near-infrared spectroscopy and what is in front of us is, nothing more, nothing less, than a sorting station that allows us to analyse the plastic waste, grouping it in classes. A compelling experience. As we wander around the space, we find curious objects, proof of which is the rococo machine that generates plastic recycling. Or the ceramic tiles, made from textile and glass waste.

400 pieces exhibited in a sequential manner

And, without realising it, we are at the next stop, the exhibition’s second hub. This is a fundamental stage, which helps us understand the appearance of plastic. Somewhere on one of the walls you can read: «Who invented plastic?» Well, it seems that Alexander Parkes had a lot to do with it. The history of this material is narrated, between trajectories and developments, and before you know it, you’re surrounded by a plastic sanctuary – Lego, barbies, lamps, food products, in short, objects whose philosophy is based on using and throwing away. All these items are used to explain the plastic boom, which leads to tough reflections on the society of disposable plastic. 
Finally, the corridors lead us to the exhibition’s last section. The current context and the possible solutions to the climate crisis are spread throughout the space, and there are many graphs and data that show the upward curve of plastic consumption throughout the world – just look at Asia, which accounts for 54% of the world plastic production. It is clear that the percentage of recycling around the world is low and insufficient, but the scenario becomes more encouraging when we give importance to the small solutions exhibited in the space. One of the highlighted topics is fashion without waste. Through the MycoTEX method, you can make seamless, tailor-made garments using compostable mushroom mycelium, grown in a laboratory. This ensures a good fit without the need for measuring, avoiding leftovers or waste. There are many more suggestions like this one, but it is up to you to discover them first hand.
‘Plastic: Rebuilding Our World’ is a reflective space and should not be taken as a trivial attempt to demonise plastic. The message behind the exhibition is to understand this material, something that, according to the curator, seems to be the only way we can rebuild a decent world for generations to come. So, it is down to us to challenge you: have you ever rethought the value you place on plastic?