Discarded Tires Reimagined as Giant Art Installations

At the Sumedang Bersatu Integrated Temporary Waste Processing Site (TPST) in Kepanjen, Malang Regency, Indonesia, discarded motorcycle tires are being given new life. Supriatna, widely known as Nana, has transformed these end-of-life tires into astonishing art installations, including birds, dolphins, tigers, dinosaurs, and even giant bats. Since becoming the leader of the Sumedang Bersatu community group in 2014, Nana has faced the challenge of tons of used tires accumulating at the TPST. While the site processes various types of waste—organic waste into compost and recyclable materials like plastic bottles, glass, and paper are sent to factories—used tires posed a problem as they had no buyers and were not accepted at the Talangagung landfill. In response to this issue, Nana began to find a solution through self-study. In 2016, he started transforming used tires into art pieces shaped like birds and insects. Initially, he used wood for the frames, weaving tire pieces and securing them with nails and wires. These creations were displayed around the TPST. After photos of his work were uploaded to Facebook, a teacher from an Adiwiyata school in Kepanjen expressed interest in purchasing them, leading to a growing number of orders from various regions. Over time, Nana's techniques have evolved. Fragile wood has been replaced with PVC pipes, and for larger works, a concrete core is used as the frame. The creation process begins with observing the morphology of the animal to be depicted, followed by drawing a life-sized sketch on a wall. This sketch serves as a template to determine the size of the iron frame. The frame is assembled using electric welding, after which the tires are cut, arranged, and attached around the frame using screws and fasteners. Nana's art not only repurposes waste materials but also raises environmental awareness and brings new value to the local community. His innovative approach highlights the potential for integrating waste management and creativity in Indonesia. Source: Mongabay Indonesia