I first encountered Essilfie’s remarkable art through a photo sent to me by my aunt. I was immediately captivated—not just by the optical illusion in the piece, where a foreground image gradually revealed a more intricate background design, but also by the unique medium used, which I couldn’t initially identify.

This intriguing discovery led me to reach out to the artist to learn more about his work and artistic vision. A few days later, Essilfie and I connected via video call.

Essilfie Banton, known by his artist name Trash4Art, aptly reflects his artistic ethos. His creations predominantly consist of discarded materials, including various plastics, which he reclaims and repurposes in his art.

For Trash4Art, the Earth exemplifies a continuous cycle of recycling. Rain falls, and the sun evaporates excess moisture back into the atmosphere. Living organisms, through death, contribute to the soil, which in turn nourishes new life. Similarly, Trash4Art believes that we all have a role in this cycle.

As an artist, Trash4Art is dedicated to addressing one of the world’s most pressing issues: pollution, particularly from solid waste and plastics. His innovative use of these materials seeks to both highlight and mitigate environmental degradation. His work portrays humanity’s current relationship with the environment: from a distance, the Earth appears beautiful, but up close, its wasteful mechanisms become apparent. Trash4Art’s mission is to recycle and transform this waste, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable planet.

Through his breathtaking creations, Trash4Art reminds us that nothing is truly lost. With determination, vision, and creativity, we can build a better world. His work underscores that the future of our planet depends on each of us.

Thank you, Essilfie, for your noble mission. I sincerely hope that your vision continues to inspire and spread globally.

Follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/essilfiebanton_artist/

Location: Ghana (Accra)