3.4.1 The thrill seeker

3.4.1 The jeweller - Samantha

As worries about humans’ impact on the environment and the climate increase, the retention of material has become a priority. Waste management is one of the major challenges in modern cities around the world. The main elements of solid waste management are recycling, the operation of green centres, and composting (Drimili, Herrero-Martin, Suardiaz-Muro & Zervas, 2020). Waste presents a threat to the health of the public and environment if it is not collected, stored and disposed of properly. Waste is perceived as a material that is unwanted and of no value.

John Ruskin is a famous writer who is famous for opposing restoration. He spent most of his life comparing buildings and plants. In his book titled Prosperpina (1875), he explained plant structure using architectural analogies. One analogy includes parts of a root which is named or represents ruins, refuges, and store-houses. He argues that the remaining structure in the ruin has a basis for the future plant to grow (Roark, 2021). The same analogy can be applied to waste. When a product has fulfilled its purpose, what remains should be considered a beginning to something of good value.

Figure 16: Jeweller (Author, 2021).

Figure 17: Jeweller (Author, 2021).

The jeweller walks around the city to collect her potential products. She walks between cities in Gauteng looking for products to upcycle and convert into jewellery. She carries her tools and simultaneously works as she walks around the city looking for material for upcycling.