Wiena Lin was commissioned by Smithsonian APAC to create Disassembly Line, a participatory art experience that prompts reflection on human production and consumption through the hands-on deconstruction and transformation of reclaimed electronic waste.
EXHIBITED AT CTRL+ALT, NYC
2 days 11,000 visitors 200 lbs of reclaimed e-waste
Wiena Lin
Artist, Producer
Artist, Producer
Arcana Metals
Metalwork, Fabrication
Metalwork, Fabrication
Charles King
CNC Fabrication, Pneumatics
CNC Fabrication, Pneumatics
Andy Cavatorta
Motor control
Motor control
Wiena Lin was commissioned by Smithsonian APAC to create Disassembly Line, a participatory art experience that prompts reflection on human production and consumption through the hands-on deconstruction and transformation of reclaimed electronic waste.
EXHIBITED AT CTRL+ALT, NYC
2 days 11,000 visitors 200 lbs of reclaimed e-waste
Wiena Lin
Artist, Producer
Artist, Producer
Arcana Metals
Metalwork, Fabrication
Metalwork, Fabrication
Charles King
CNC Fabrication, Pneumatics
CNC Fabrication, Pneumatics
Andy Cavatorta
Motor control
Motor control
PARTICIPATION
In the outer-most ring, visitors disassemble reclaimed consumer electronics in a factory setting.
VIDEO CONTENT
Old TVs and computer monitors display footage of the global e-waste trade amidst a growing pile of e-waste created by visitor participation.
UPCYCLING
Reclaimed components are recontextualized as art objects, bringing value to waste.
RETAIL KIOSK
Small sculptures made by the artist from e-waste are displayed and sold in a retail kiosk.
FORMAT
Disassembly Line comprises an outer ring of workstations surrounding a motor-controlled conveyor belt. Over the course of the exhibit, discarded components accumulate in the center of the ring, bringing to life an urban e-waste village. Among the refuse are reclaimed tube TVs and computer monitors displaying video about the widespread export of old electronics to offshore e-waste villages where they are processed outside of environmental regulation and without regard for public health.
FORMAT
Disassembly Line comprises an outer ring of workstations surrounding a motor-controlled conveyor belt. Over the course of the exhibit, discarded components accumulate in the center of the ring, bringing to life an urban e-waste village. Among the refuse are reclaimed tube TVs and computer monitors displaying video about the widespread export of old electronics to offshore e-waste villages where they are processed outside of environmental regulation and without regard for public health.PARTICIPATION
Visitors clad in full hazmat suits are immersed in the surreal vision of other participants dressed identically. They reverse engineer, tinker, destroy and smash reclaimed consumer electronics at work stations outfitted with hand tools, compressed air, and collection bins for valuable components to be upcycled.
PARTICIPATION
Visitors clad in full hazmat suits are immersed in the surreal vision of other participants dressed identically. They reverse engineer, tinker, destroy and smash reclaimed consumer electronics at work stations outfitted with hand tools, compressed air, and collection bins for valuable components to be upcycled.
VIDEO
CONTENT
A video montage tells the story of of the global e-waste trade using footage licensed from the UN, PBS, and the Basel Action Network. As visitors disassemble electronics, they mirror both factory workers and marginalized populations who process hazardous e-waste as seen in the video.VIDEO CONTENT
A video montage tells the story of of the global e-waste trade using footage licensed from the UN, PBS, and the Basel Action Network. As visitors disassemble electronics, they mirror both factory workers and marginalized populations who process hazardous e-waste as seen in the video.
UPCYCLING
Disassembly is paired with the reuse of e-waste components, elevating them into art objects. The installation extends conversations around commodity and currency, and low versus high art beyond academic boundaries into our daily communion with our electronics and coveted belongings.UPCYCLING
Disassembly is paired with the reuse of e-waste components, elevating them into art objects. The installation extends conversations around commodity and currency, and low versus high art beyond academic boundaries into our daily communion with our electronics and coveted belongings.RETAIL KIOSK
A functional retail kiosk offers upcycled art objects made of reconstituted e-waste. Together, the kiosk and factory setting probe the boundaries of cultural consumption versus consumerism and art space versus retail space.
RETAIL
A functional retail kiosk offers upcycled art objects made of reconstituted e-waste. Together, the kiosk and factory setting probe the boundaries of cultural consumption versus consumerism and art space versus retail space.WITH
THANKS
ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION LEADS
Dustin John, Charles King, Andy Cavatorta, Charlie Whitney
VISUAL STYLING
Andrea Lauer, Hayden Olney
EXHIBITION DOCENTS AND FABRICATION SUPPORT
Jeanette Subrero, Lui Kawasumi, Dan Turk, Julie Lin, Andrew Lin, LiJia Gong, Lui Kawasumi, Anita Schillihorn, Molly Scott, Glenna Gordon, Sarah David Heydemann, Chloe Chang, Alex Denny, Stephe Sykes, Janak Ramakrishnan, Dina Neishtadt, Han Pham, Dave Cole, Ayo Okunseinde, Gordon Millsaps, Justin Koziol, Evan Abel, Jenny Scully, and Arrick
CONTENT PARTNERS
Smitsonian Museum APAC, Isidore E-waste Center, Basel Action Network, Lower East Side Ecology Center
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Greg Liburd
SOUNDTRACK
Benoit and Sergio
SMITHSONIAN FAMILY
Adriel Luis, Kalewa Correa, Lawrence-Minh Bùi Davis, Jeanny Kim, Chris Mah, Evan Keeling, Adam Labuen, Nafisa Isa, Clara Kim, Desun Oka, Solomon Enos, and Nathan Kawanishi
SPECIAL THANKS
mom :)
Dustin John, Charles King, Andy Cavatorta, Charlie Whitney
VISUAL STYLING
Andrea Lauer, Hayden Olney
EXHIBITION DOCENTS AND FABRICATION SUPPORT
Jeanette Subrero, Lui Kawasumi, Dan Turk, Julie Lin, Andrew Lin, LiJia Gong, Lui Kawasumi, Anita Schillihorn, Molly Scott, Glenna Gordon, Sarah David Heydemann, Chloe Chang, Alex Denny, Stephe Sykes, Janak Ramakrishnan, Dina Neishtadt, Han Pham, Dave Cole, Ayo Okunseinde, Gordon Millsaps, Justin Koziol, Evan Abel, Jenny Scully, and Arrick
CONTENT PARTNERS
Smitsonian Museum APAC, Isidore E-waste Center, Basel Action Network, Lower East Side Ecology Center
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Greg Liburd
SOUNDTRACK
Benoit and Sergio
SMITHSONIAN FAMILY
Adriel Luis, Kalewa Correa, Lawrence-Minh Bùi Davis, Jeanny Kim, Chris Mah, Evan Keeling, Adam Labuen, Nafisa Isa, Clara Kim, Desun Oka, Solomon Enos, and Nathan Kawanishi
SPECIAL THANKS
mom :)
WITH THANKS
ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION LEADS
Dustin John, Charles King, Andy Cavatorta, Charlie Whitney
VISUAL STYLING
Andrea Lauer, Hayden Olney
EXHIBITION DOCENTS AND FABRICATION SUPPORT
Jeanette Subrero, Lui Kawasumi, Dan Turk, Julie Lin, Andrew Lin, LiJia Gong, Lui Kawasumi, Anita Schillihorn, Molly Scott, Glenna Gordon, Sarah David Heydemann, Chloe Chang, Alex Denny, Stephe Sykes, Janak Ramakrishnan, Dina Neishtadt, Han Pham, Dave Cole, Ayo Okunseinde, Gordon Millsaps, Justin Koziol, Evan Abel, Jenny Scully, and Arrick
CONTENT PARTNERS
Smitsonian Museum APAC, Isidore E-waste Center, Basel Action Network, Lower East Side Ecology Center
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Greg Liburd
SOUNDTRACK
Benoit and Sergio
SMITHSONIAN FAMILY
Adriel Luis, Kalewa Correa, Lawrence-Minh Bùi Davis, Jeanny Kim, Chris Mah, Evan Keeling, Adam Labuen, Nafisa Isa, Clara Kim, Desun Oka, Solomon Enos, and Nathan Kawanishi
SPECIAL THANKS
mom :)
Dustin John, Charles King, Andy Cavatorta, Charlie Whitney
VISUAL STYLING
Andrea Lauer, Hayden Olney
EXHIBITION DOCENTS AND FABRICATION SUPPORT
Jeanette Subrero, Lui Kawasumi, Dan Turk, Julie Lin, Andrew Lin, LiJia Gong, Lui Kawasumi, Anita Schillihorn, Molly Scott, Glenna Gordon, Sarah David Heydemann, Chloe Chang, Alex Denny, Stephe Sykes, Janak Ramakrishnan, Dina Neishtadt, Han Pham, Dave Cole, Ayo Okunseinde, Gordon Millsaps, Justin Koziol, Evan Abel, Jenny Scully, and Arrick
CONTENT PARTNERS
Smitsonian Museum APAC, Isidore E-waste Center, Basel Action Network, Lower East Side Ecology Center
PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Greg Liburd
SOUNDTRACK
Benoit and Sergio
SMITHSONIAN FAMILY
Adriel Luis, Kalewa Correa, Lawrence-Minh Bùi Davis, Jeanny Kim, Chris Mah, Evan Keeling, Adam Labuen, Nafisa Isa, Clara Kim, Desun Oka, Solomon Enos, and Nathan Kawanishi
SPECIAL THANKS
mom :)