South African artist paints pictures from plastic waste, the results are incredible works

With plastic waste on the rise around the world, Buthelezi is using her work to bring attention to and combat the problem.

While most artists use watercolor or oil paint to create impressive works of art, South African painter Mbongeni Buthelezi uses a completely different medium. It's plastic scrap. All create beautiful pictures to convey the message of environmental protection.

Buthelezi's paintings are made of plastic waste that he collects from local landfills and streets in Johannesburg (South Africa).

Buthelezi said: "Animals are slowly dying, fish in the ocean are also under serious threat. Because of these material things and for people as well. We need to be responsible."

Buthelezi's self-portrait.

An artist and activist, Buthelezi (56 years old) revealed his creative talents as a boy in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

He made his own clay figurines of the animals around his village, such as cows, horses, and goats.

Buthelezi said: "I grew up with my father's animals. Cattle are an important part of my life. But not everything in this rural setting is natural."

He explains that there is too much plastic waste in grazing areas. So much so that cows sometimes chew on garbage. "Sometimes we have to see cows die from eating the wrong plastic," Buthelezi said.

The painting made from plastic is called "Nobuhle" (Beauty Queen).

Five decades on, South Africa still has a serious plastic pollution problem. In 2018, 107,000 tons of plastic waste from South Africa was released into the marine environment. A 2015 study found that the country is one of the 20 countries with the most impact on plastic pollution in the marine environment.

With plastic waste on the rise around the world, Buthelezi is using her work to bring attention to and combat the problem.

The painting is titled "Street Football".

The painting was named by Buthelezi: "Girl".

"Tebogo and friends".

Most of the plastic paintings painted by Buthelez are inspired by life or good childhood memories. The painting is titled: "Landscape of Soweto 1".

The painting "Site" is created from plastic waste.

Buthelezi has developed his own method of melting plastic waste with a heat gun and firing it onto a thick canvas to create paintings.

He wants to show the world that art can be good for our green planet.

With his work, he hopes to contribute to reducing plastic waste in South Africa and show others how they can do the same.

An unnamed painting by Buthelezi.

The painting "Landscape Soweto 2" depicts a place living with a lot of plastic waste.