Circular artwork made from car tires from the port
Many Amsterdammers are not aware of the wide range of activities taking place in the port. The art and design project STARTS4water brings the port closer to the public and highlights the role it plays in the transition to a circular economy. The result? A circular artwork made from used car tires, supplied by Granuband in the port. The work of British artist Michael Pinsky is now on display at the NDSM wharf in Amsterdam-Noord.
Making future scenarios visible through art
STARTS4WATER is an initiative of STARTS (Science, Technology and Arts) and Waag Futurelab, a research institute for technology and design. With this second edition, STARTS4WATER focuses specifically on ports. Port of Amsterdam was therefore invited to take part in the challenge.
The challenge: to envision how cargo flows are changing and what this means for the sustainability of the Port of Amsterdam. The port faces major challenges as well as opportunities. Seen through an artistic lens, possible future scenarios can be made visible, helping to stimulate the transition of the port area.
Roon van Maanen, Director Energy, Cargo & Circular at Port of Amsterdam, explains:
“Art is about imagination. The circular economy is abstract and concrete at the same time. The end goal is clear, but at the same time difficult to picture. Art can help make the path toward a circular economy tangible. And art can also serve as a bridge between Amsterdammers and the activities that are already taking place in the port.”
From car tire to artwork
British artist Michael Pinsky, known for international projects that challenge the status quo in areas such as climate change, urban design, and social well-being, was asked to capture the port’s transition in an artwork. Michael: “I felt very drawn to Granuband, where the processing and recycling of car tires all happens in one place. Before starting this project, I didn’t fully understand how a circular economy works. But at its core, it’s about paying to have something recycled and then being paid again when that recycled material is used for new purposes. The great thing about a port is that there’s plenty of space to handle all of this logistically. In this case, moving massive car tires—mainly by water.”
To gather inspiration, he visited several locations in the port. Roon explains:
“We held several sessions together and took Michael into the port so he could see, hear, smell, and experience for himself what the circular economy means in practice. These visits directly inspired the artwork.”
This resulted in a collaboration with Granuband, a company in the port that collects and processes used car tires. For the artwork, Michael borrowed a number of tires that had come from Iceland. After the exhibition, the tires will return to the Amsterdam port terminal, where they will be processed and recycled.
Making the circular economy more tangible
The project not only highlights the challenges and opportunities of the transition but also helps make the circular economy more tangible for a wider audience. Roon:
“For many Amsterdammers, it’s not visible what actually happens in the port. With this art project, we can show how the port plays a role in the transition toward a circular economy.”
Michael Pinsky’s artwork 'All The Tyres From Iceland' will be on display at NDSM in Amsterdam-Noord until November 24th.