Paper fans open their wings.

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

In tune with the Plastic Free July global movement, artists-activists of the UAE-based Art4You Gallery organised month-long events in July that called for sustainable solutions to combat plastic pollution. The gallery hosted Plastic Free July art milestones, with the aim of inspiring millions across the UAE. Throughout July, it promoted various art activations to encourage cultural shifts for reducing plastic use. The initiative aligned with the broader goal of sustainability, encouraging a reassessment of production and consumption, especially in art making. Art4You Gallery was the only community in the UAE registered with the Plastic Free July organisation, for the significant 2024 campaign.

Events included sustainability-themed live art presentations, eco-friendly nature-themed live painting sessions, an art exhibition on the theme of a plastic free world, a plastic-free morning tea get-together, and a networking event that helped artists further develop the theme. Launched in 2011, Plastic Free July is an international movement encouraging people to avoid single-use plastics for the entire month. It is now one of the most influential environmental campaigns in the world. Millions of people across the globe take part in the campaign every year, with many committing to reducing plastic pollution far beyond the month of July.

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Art4You Gallery, as part of its 2024 initiative, dedicated itself to raising awareness about the pervasive issue of plastic pollution. Its efforts were not limited to simply raising the question of avoiding plastic; it extended to educating the community, providing creative solutions. The gallery’s goals aligned with the broader needs of Plastic Free July and included reusing materials, reducing single-use plastics and creating knowledge resources on ocean plastic pollution. Throughout the month, Art4You Gallery hosted a series of events that brought attention to the critical issue of plastic waste.

The gallery not only showcased plastic-free art, but also served as a platform for discussion and education. The gallery’s artists-activists were at the forefront of the movement, using their skills to communicate the urgent need for change. One of the highlights was the work of Jesno Jackson, co-founder of Art4You Gallery, who is well known for her educational efforts on plastic pollution. Her activations in multiple locations provided insights about the impact of plastic on our environment. Her work drove home the message of Plastic Free July, and the need to make a significant difference in the community’s understanding of the issue.

  Jesno Jackson at a July event.

The events organised by Art4You Gallery also had a ripple effect, inspiring community members to take action. From workshops on reusing materials to public art displays that highlighted the dangers of plastic pollution, the gallery initiated a multifaceted approach to tackling the global problem. The emphasis was on actionable steps that individuals and communities can take to reduce their plastic footprint. At one event, twelve international artists emphasised the importance of environmental protection with an Eco-friendly Live Art presentation titled ‘Say No To Plastic’. Art4You Gallery’s ‘Say No to Plastic - #GoGreen’ event on July 12 at The Green Revolution in Dubai, aimed to inspire creativity while promoting environmental consciousness. The interactive session featured creative eco-friendly live art with a focus on reused glass bottle art, incorporating water plants.

Attendees were encouraged to dress in white or green, to harmonise with the event’s theme. The occasion was supported and registered with the Plastic Free July Foundation and was curated by Jackson, along with sustainability partner The Green Revolution Dubai and eco-friendly gift partner, Looped by Heart; they supported the happening. The Chief Guest was Sanaa Lamlih and Peter Farrington, environment conservationist, was Speaker and Guest of Honour. Participating artists included Dima Albitar, Rafah Abdulrazzak from Syria; Jesno Jackson and Maniyar Bhumika from India; Rizwana Najeen from Sri Lanka; Mahboobeh Shahnavaz, Anahita Ansaripour, Shakiba Rabiei and Fara Aletaha from Iran, and Labiba Ferhat from Algeria.

“Art can serve a purpose beyond being an object of beauty: it can address pressing environmental issues and topics about conservation, sustainability, preservation, biodiversity, and threatened habitats,” said Jackson. “Sustainable art is a movement whose aims are to ignite discussion (and adjust our perceptions) about the way we use our resources. It seeks to make us think more deeply about the impact that our lifestyle choices have on the planet.” She said that artists have used nature in their work, showing their concern for environmental issues. They have used sustainable materials in their creations including leaves, flowers, palm trees, broken mirrors, recycled T-shirts, denim, plastics and cardboard, that reflect their feelings and concerns for Planet Earth.

Renowned artist Vincent van Gogh, for example, brought aspects of nature to life in his paintings. He was the inspiration behind one of Art4You Gallery’s plastic free live painting assemblies. Fifteen international artists painted van Gogh themes on wooden jewellery boxes (July 27) at Reem Art Gallery, Dubai. On the same day, they also organised a ‘Plastic Free Morning Tea’ event - a thought-provoking way of making and sharing tea and food, and have fun/serious conversations about plastic-free solutions.

Reem Art Gallery, supported by gallery founders Rafah Abdulrazzak and Reem, partnering with Jackson who curated the project together with the artists, shared tea that was not wrapped in plastic. The artists who “tea-eed off” were Mana Razeghi, Bharati Mehansi, Rachel John, Dalal Hamed Taleb, Lavanya Varma, Mozhgan Afrisham, Rizwana Najeen, Mahboobeh Shahnavaz, Anahita Ansaripour, Eashan Dasgupta, Labiba Ferhat, Rafah Abdulrazzak, Jesno Jackson, Dima and Afshan Nawaz Khan.