Was wir wegwerfen, verschwindet nicht
The Museum Ostwall at the Dortmunder U in Dortmund has opened a new exhibition titled "Müll – die globalen Wege des Abfalls" ("Waste – The Global Paths of Garbage"), curated by Christina Danick and Michael Griff. Featuring around 50 international artworks from the 20th and 21st centuries, including two newly commissioned pieces, the show uses art to explore waste as material, motif, and aesthetic strategy. Key works include Kader Attia's "Los de Arriba y Los de Abajo," which addresses power imbalances through the lens of garbage in Hebron, and historical pieces by César Baldaccini, Arman, and HA Schult. The exhibition also highlights contemporary issues such as e-waste, global waste trafficking, and the environmental impact of industrial nations on the Global South.
This exhibition matters because it reframes waste not merely as an environmental issue but as a deeply political and economic one, revealing global power structures and resource inequalities. By connecting historical art movements—like the 1960s critical engagement with trash—to current crises, the show demonstrates how contemporary art can make invisible systems of exploitation visible. The strong public interest since its late March opening underscores the relevance of these themes in everyday life, offering a visceral, educational experience that challenges viewers to reconsider their own relationship to consumption and disposal.