One man’s garbage is another man’s blank canvas.
U.S. East Coast Artist Maika‘i Tubbs has claimed his creative fame with impactful montages pieced together using every-day trash. One of his newest installations was recently featured at ARTafterDARK, a monthly* evening art party at the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard®. Earth Day led the event theme this April, with Tubbs’ piece featured as the centerpiece of the installation.
His exhibition, called AMEND, was created with used plastic bags as a tribute to Honolulu' recent plastic bag ban and Hawaii's movement to eradicate plastic bags. From a spectator’s standpoint, the recycled plastic monster takes a life of its own as a tentacled creature bursting through a courtyards’ water fountain. It surfaces from its aquatic home with an important call-to-action: be mindful consumers.
Tubbs, an O‘ahu native who moved to Brooklyn, New York several years ago to attend art school, has used his creative mindset to give waste a new purpose and transform it into intricate sculptures and installations. He is an artist with an environmental agenda, leveraging his platform to spark conversations about plastic use and pollution.
“It means a lot to have a sponsor that backs your mission,” said Tubbs. “My entire art practice revolves around working with things that people consider garbage... and it’s really nice to have a sponsor that backs a garbage artist!”
In addition to sponsoring Tubbs’s piece, Hawaiian and HoMA hosted an evening focused on sustainability. Attendees strung lei with recycled paper, sipped on earthy cocktails crafted by ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach and received samples of reef-safe sunscreen by Raw Elements USA.
ARTafterDARK is one of Honolulu’s most popular evening events and attracts more than 1,200 of the city’s trend-setting art enthusiasts. Throughout the year, attendees can expect to see more eclectic exhibitions that echo important stories and messages relating to our island home.
*January to October only
The Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard® is issued by Barclays Bank Delaware (Barclays) pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.