Reimagining waste, redefining aesthetics

Project Ødeland investigates how ceramic and glass waste, along with granite waste from a local stone quarry on Bornholm, can be recycled into new ceramic products. The project, initiated by artists Christina Schou Christensen, Thora Finnsdottir and Signe Fensholt, is supported by the Danish Arts Foundation and Nationalbankens Jubilæumsfond, and developed in collaboration with Bofa, Bornholm’s waste-management authority.

Running along two key tracks, the project addresses a critical imbalance: while ceramicists face dwindling access to sustainable raw resources, vast amounts of ceramic waste continue to accumulate. Among the waste materials examined are high-fired sanitary ceramics—toilets and sinks—which Bofa exports off the island to the tune of 400 tons per year. The artists’ goal is to explore whether these discarded materials can be safely reused in ceramic production.

In the panel discussion, moderated by writer and curator Charlotte Jul, key themes included the role of production aesthetics, historical boundaries in art perception, and the political and philosophical dimensions of working with waste. Performance artist and lecturer Cecilie Ullerup-Smith provided a historical context, explaining how ideas of artistic quality are rooted in Enlightenment-era theories that separate beauty from utility, and art from craft. She challenged the audience to reconsider these inherited frameworks, especially when assessing the value of sustainable artistic practices.

The conversation delved into how sustainability is not just a functional concern but a conceptual and material one. Reusing waste challenges existing power structures in art by redefining what materials and processes are considered valuable. Panelists emphasized the labor-intensive nature of sustainable craft and asked whether audiences and collectors are prepared to value the increased effort and time required.

Another rich area of discussion was the role of narrative in artistic value. While a recycled ceramic piece may be beautiful, its deeper impact often lies in the story it tells—about waste, material history, and environmental consciousness. The project aims to educate not just makers, but also collectors, institutions, and industry partners on the ethics embedded in materials.

Ultimately, the panel underscored that sustainability is not a fleeting trend but a transformative lens for evaluating quality, process, and cultural relevance. The project offers a blueprint for how art and craft can play a leading role in the green transition—not only through material innovation, but through shifting how we define and value aesthetics itself.

For more information and ongoing updates, visit the Project Ødeland website.

This article was produced by Bofa.

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