‘Flashback’ by Mirko Canesi: Exposing the Life Cycle of Technological Objects

Flashback by Mirko Canesi is a series of terracotta wall sculptures of 90s video game arenas. These arenas have multiple levels and obstacles to navigate, including vines to swing from and canyons to fall into. By rendering these usually digital landscapes, Canesi is showing the materiality of digital objects. The clay’s fragile nature, a symbol of the fragile state that nature is in today, reminds people how despite digital assets appearing to not have any physical weight, they were still produced and are still being consumed using technological devices—materials that cause very real waste and large carbon footprints. 

Flashback reminds people that despite their increasingly digital lives, they should not forget about the physical environment; that the planet they inhabit is burning and requires their attention. The piece calls for better management of electronic waste (e-waste), to create a digital world that does not cause harm to the world’s physical environment, so that humanity can enjoy both its physical and digital existence. This is why Flashback by Mirko Canesi is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and Responsible Consumption and Production.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established that e-waste is one of the fastest-growing solid waste contributors in the world. In 2022, they found that 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced worldwide, with only 20 percent being correctly collected and recycled. This waste frequently contains lead, which has caused several adverse health effects, especially for those working at recycling facilities for e-waste. This is why artworks such as Flashback which advocate for better alignment between digital technology and the environment are crucial.

Mirko Canesi's Flashback offers a compelling reminder of the hidden environmental impact behind today’s digital world. By recreating virtual gaming landscapes in delicate terracotta, Canesi prompts viewers to reflect on the material origins of digital experiences and the ecological consequences of electronic waste. Flashback serves as a call to action for responsible consumption and disposal of technology, highlighting the need for sustainable practices in digital innovation. 

Find out more about Flashback and other pieces by Mirko Canesi on his website www.mirkocanesi.com or Instagram @mirko_canesi.