Turning trash into treasure
Youth lead creative green revolution with sustainable art made from everyday waste
By Christine Susan Shine
When Asmaa Al-Duribi, an experienced art educator, set out to recreate a traditional Kuwaiti ship, she didn't reach for wood or clay. Instead, she chose soda cans, shoe packaging paper, cardboard, and foil rolls — materials most people would discard without a second thought. The result was Boom Saffar, a stunning model of a Kuwaiti dhow with metallic sails shaped like wings. To Al-Duribi, the sails symbolized not just movement but resilience: 'Kuwait is a nation that has flown around the world through its global connections,' she reflected.
For some in Kuwait, art is no longer just about expression — it's about transformation. This spirit echoed throughout the QUWA Recycle Art Gallery, where Al-Duribi's work stood alongside dozens of creations by students and teachers from the ministry of education. QUWA is the first and largest initiative in the GCC promoting youth-led action on sustainability and climate awareness.
Alaa Aljadi's marine theme-based art
'Boom Saffar' by Asmaa Al-Duribi
Tahani Abdullah Al Thaarish's handmade woven rug
'The QUWA team has been reaching out to schools across Kuwait, asking if students had created artworks using recycled materials for class projects,' said Elham Jafari, one of the exhibition's organizers.
Each piece told a story — of discarded materials repurposed with care, of culture remembered and of sustainability embraced through creativity. One standout contributor was Tahani Abdullah Al-Thaarish, who took the ancient tradition of weaving and gave it a contemporary, eco-friendly twist. Using cloth strips from old dresses and a recycled building pipe as her loom, she wove a richly textured rug entirely by hand. She also crafted delicate baskets from date palm leaves.
But sustainability goes beyond turning trash into art. Jafari emphasized the importance of conscious consumption. Citing the environmental toll of fast fashion, she advocates for slow fashion and thrift shopping — still a niche in Kuwait — as stylish, eco-conscious alternatives. 'Buy less, but buy better quality,' she advised.
Minimizing waste, maximizing creativity
Alaa Aljadi, an art teacher at Sahal Bent Suhail Elementary School for Girls, led her students in creating a marine-themed exhibit using everyday household items. Inspired by the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Cultural Centre, a landmark of education in Kuwait, Aljadi's students shaped coral reefs from tissue rolls, crabs from cardboard boxes and painted seascapes with wax crayons instead of paints. 'We didn't use anything beyond what we could repurpose,' she explained.
Among the visitors was Mohamad Yunus, a Kuwaiti architect and digital artist. Though not exhibiting, he was drawn to the event's mission. 'Every time we see waste and turn it into art, we find creative ways to minimize it,' he said. His journey began with childhood collages made from waste and has since evolved into AI-generated digital art. Today, he integrates these upcycled digital pieces into interior architecture, replacing traditional paintings with sustainable designs.
Future storytellers of sustainability
The mission of the QUWA Initiative is simple yet urgent: To turn the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into everyday actions and cultural habits. 'Quwa means power in Arabic, and it reflects the strength of youth collaboration,' said Abdullah, an official with QUWA.
Supported by several embassies, the initiative brings sustainability into daily conversations by engaging students and teachers as change agents. 'Youth are the storytellers of the future — they will tell us what's coming,' said Yousef Meshari Albanney, director of QUWA.
Albanney walks the talk, reducing plastic use at home to protect both the planet and his family. QUWA also uses social media and public exhibitions to encourage companies to adopt greener practices, such as replacing plastic bags with paper alternatives. 'We've approached many, and the interest is growing,' he said proudly.
The exhibition runs from May 7 to 15 at Al Hamra shopping center, transforming a commercial space into a vibrant hub for environmental education and creative collaboration. The setting itself is symbolic, prompting visitors to rethink the relationship between consumption and responsibility.
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