bUneke Magazine Issue I

Sayaka Ganz grew up
living in Japan, Brazil,
and Hong Kong with
the Shinto animist
belief that all things in
the world have spirits.
When she sees discarded
items on the street
or thrift store shelves,
she said she feels a
deep sadness for them
and is moved to make
these abandoned
objects happy.
She has said that she
does not condemn the
use of plastic or the
desire for a more convenient
life. “However,
we must be aware
that convenience has
hidden costs. I believe
the best way for artists
to help reduce waste is
to show how beautiful
these materials can be,
and what can be done
with these mundane
objects. When we
think of these things
as beautiful, we value
them. If we value
our resources we will
waste less.”
Using reclaimed metal
and plastic objects,
some of Sayaka’s recent
sculptures depict