Co2_karbondioksida, the Malaysian art group consisting of Celine and Oscar, wants to integrate art and activism, i.e., artivism, to raise awareness of environmental issues such as waste and recycling, and to ultimately inspire change from within the local communities.

In an interview with Maritime Fairtrade, Oscar said: “Environmental concerns, such as the infiltration of microplastics into human organs and blood, are not receiving the necessary attention.

“Our visit for educational interactions with primary school children and their educators highlighted a significant lack of awareness regarding microplastics. This discovery is both unexpected and alarming to us, as well as to those encountering this information for the first time. It highlights the urgent need to raise awareness about microplastic in Malaysia.”

Oscar and Celine both have a background in architecture. Since young, Oscar has a passion for the art and he realized that an architect’s professional life is not for him, so after graduation, he returned to Muar, Johor, his hometown, and started on his journey as an artivist.

Celine, on the other hand, worked in the architectural industry for a period of time before joining Oscar. She becomes his business partner, and later, spouse and mother of their children. 

The name Co2_karbondioksida intertwines the initials of Celine and Oscar, with the numeral 2, symbolizing their united collaboration. Karbondioksida, Malay for carbon dioxide, is used to evoke a connection to themes of waste and transformation.

Co2_karbondioksida use the materials of their artwork as the main theme to spread the message. This is in contrast to the conventional artist who emphasizes aesthetics over functionality and context. The idea emerged during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Oscar said: “I found solace in my love for gardening and plants by starting a compost pile. Nearby, there was a fruit shop that often had unsellable rotten fruits they needed to discard. I reached out to them, hoping they could contribute these fruits to my compost instead of throwing them away, though they sometimes forget to remove the plastic bags.

“The journey of composting typically spanned two to three months, influenced by the materials in the bin. I checked on the compost pile to see how it was coming along. As I dug deeper, I witnessed a transformation: discarded food scraps and spoiled fruits had turned into rich black soil. Yet, amidst this renewal, colorful plastics remained untouched by change.”

“That was the moment I chose to find new ways to repurpose these non-compostable plastics.”

A compost heap.

Artivism goes beyond art by reaching out to the local communities, forming connections and spreading the message of the activists. Co2_karbondioksida engages specific communities with a distinct message: educational outreach to primary school students.

Celine holds the conviction that effective communication with young individuals is of paramount importance, emphasizing the necessity of fostering environmental awareness from an early age. 

She said: “A teacher asked for our help in organizing activities for primary school children as they were overly engaged with social media. We organized a competition for the children to create a video about the effects of single-use plastics, their detrimental impact, and their reuse potential. Students were encouraged to bring used plastics from home and create artwork for the video production.

“Initially, teachers expressed surprise at involving primary school students in video editing tasks. But the headmaster supported our approach by noting that today’s children are familiar with shooting videos and can likely edit them as well. The outcome was impressive. I observed that several students demonstrated a commendable level of proficiency in video editing tools.

“Educating children is vital because they are naturally curious explorers. If we conceal important messages, like the danger of microplastics, from them now, they will remain unaware in the future. Thus, we will continue engaging with primary schools to share our initiatives, methodologies, and concerns about environmental issues.”

The Fragile Spectrum.

When asked about a particular artwork that significantly raised public awareness, Co2_karbondioksida referenced a piece entitled The Fragile Spectrum. 

Oscar said: “This particular project was commissioned by a shampoo product company renowned for their commitment to sustainability, as evidenced by their use of recyclable plastic bottles. Although the production of shampoo necessitates the inclusion of chemicals, this company distinguishes itself within the industry by minimizing chemical usage.

“Upon receiving this commission, we immediately recognized a direct connection between their product and current environmental concerns, specifically ocean plastic pollution. Also, we identified an intriguing parallel between human hair and coral; both are delicate and susceptible to changes in their environments — coral being sensitive to temperature fluctuations much like human hair.”

Co2_karbondioksida’s artwork possesses another distinct feature that piques the curiosity of their audience. 

Oscar said: “When presenting our artwork, we often encounter inquiries from the audience regarding color additions. We deliberately refrain from applying additional coatings or colors, opting instead to showcase the original waste materials used.

“This approach serves not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity to alter perceptions about waste. Commonly regarded as unsightly and disposable, we strive to demonstrate that discarded materials can indeed possess beauty.”

As they continue on their journey, Co2_karbondioksida is guided by the mission to repurpose discarded materials into something useful again, something that is still beneficial to humanity.  

“Our journey begins with the goal of completing the cycle by transforming community-sourced materials into artworks. While these creations are a testament to our creativity, we recognize that waste still poses a challenge. Our ultimate vision is even more ambitious: To breathe new life into these artworks by repurposing them into functional furniture or construction materials,” Celine said.

“What we discarded 10 years ago, we ended up consuming a decade later,” Oscar added. “We aspire to create an international dialogue by submitting artworks to foreign museums. Through this initiative, we aim to convey our perspectives on environmental issues while exploring how artivists from other countries address these critical concerns.”

All photos credit: Co2_karbondioksida

Top photo: Oscar and Celine with primary school students.