From 23 September to 1 February, Waag Futurelab will present Michael Pinsky's new work All the Tyres from Iceland at the NDSM shipyard. The work consists of two sculptures made from old tyres. British artist Michael Pinsky has been affiliated with Waag since April 2024 as artist-in-residence.
All the Tyres from Iceland is a sculptural artwork rooted in a compelling narrative of global trade, waste, and circular economies. This project reimagines used tyres—typically seen as waste—into striking installations that challenge perceptions of value and sustainability.
The port of Amsterdam plays an important role, as it is the location where the recycling company GRANUBAND receives all discarded tyres from Iceland. Pinsky shows that the port is more than just a transport hub. His artistic research reveals the hidden social and cultural background of ports as trade routes and family traditions and exposes the complex material flows within the circular economy. Before the tyres are recycled, he uses them temporarily for his sculptures. Pinsky finds it interesting that you have to pay to get rid of tyres: the so-called “negative value” of waste. With his work, he emphasises that waste actually has value and can be a raw material.
The work will be on display at the NDSM shipyard (NDSM Y-slope, next to Faralda Crane Hotel) from 23 September to 1 February.
About Michael Pinsky
Michael Pinsky is a UK-based artist whose international projects challenge the status quo on climate change, urban design and societal well being. He explores issues which shape and influence the use of our public realm to create ambitious and provocative installations in galleries and public spaces. His recent installation Pollution Pods is touring internationally and has been exhibited in Somerset House, London, COP 28, Dubai, COP 26, Glasgow; COP25, Madrid, Spain; UN Climate Change Summit, New York; Science Gallery Melbourne; Media City Plaza, Manchester; TED Annual Conference, Vancouver; Place des Nations, Geneva; Klimahaus, BremerHaven, Germany and STARMUS, Trondheim, Norway.
Credits
Residency host: Waag Futurelab
Exhibition partner: Stichting NDSM-werf
Production: Leoke Welding Works
Short film: Leandra Hoffmann r3mediadesign
Over S+T+ARTS4WaterII
All the Tyres from Iceland is part of the European project S+T+ARTS4WaterII Ports in Transformation, that brings together art, technology and science around the social issues and climate challenges facing ports in Europe.
The project is co-funded by the European Commission under grant agreement number LC-02629312 and Port of Amsterdam, and realised with material contribution and logistic support of GRANUBAND.
