Rayastre is an Indonesian collage and sculpture artist who primarily uses old and discarded radiography results, pressed flowers, and antique furniture as mediums. He particularly starts his collages with various X-ray results from humans and animals. Rayastre then adds preserved flowers, pinned insects, and even taxidermied animals.
The resulting pieces possess the aesthetics of objects originating from the Golden Age of Naturalism, a European period during the early 1900s that was marked by frequent and early scientific advancements at the hands of royal societies. Using old radiography results and reminiscing about both a bygone era and beings, these pieces appear to be early eulogies for human beings and wildlife alike. They are macabre and painful reminders of the present need to preserve and conserve nature for their and human longevity alike. This is why Rayastre’s pieces are relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Responsible Consumption and Production and Life on Land.
The flowers that Rayastre has pressed onto his pieces have not fully dried. This means that they will eventually decay, yellowing the tape and radiograph that he has used in his pieces, transforming the piece throughout its lifecycle with the flowers’ decay. “All will fade away into brown shades. I see this decay as part of my work— They’ll lose some current beauty, but an extra quality will be added. Especially in respect to memory, time and will deepen it psychologically,” writes Rayastre about his work.
Radio graphic prints that Rayastre uses in his pieces are indeed one of the harder wastes to recycle. A paper published in the Journal of Physics outlined how the COVID-19 pandemic had created a radiographic print waste problem due to the high number of X-rays being performed to monitor COVID-19 patients. Radiographic prints are made on radiographic film that, like early photography prints, contains silver and other toxic chemicals.
These components can only be processed and refined for safe disposal after they have been separated from one another with electrolysis. The lengthy process requires large investments, which often deters stakeholders from performing proper disposal methods. This is why Rayastre’s artworks, which help repurpose discarded radiographic films, are essential in terms of helping to prolong their lifecycle and keeping them away from potentially harming the environment.
Rayastre’s radiography collages are crucial reminders of the delicate balance between human progress and environmental preservation. By repurposing discarded radiographic films, Rayastre transforms waste into art. At the same time, his work underlines the urgent need for responsible radiographic waste management. Just like how the flowers in his pieces decay, his final works symbolize the inevitable passage of time and the pressing need to preserve nature while it lasts.
Find out more about collages and sculptures by Rayastre and their other initiatives by checking their Instagram on @rayastre_.