I first heard about this rug a few months ago, but its photos have been floating around the Internet for years.
Apparently, a Puerto Rican artist by the name of Jésus Bubu Négron paid street cleaners to pick up cigarette butts for him. Then he wove the wrappers to make a beautiful rug:
photo © Haupt & Binder: universes-in-universe.de
photo © Haupt & Binder: universes-in-universe.de
The photos are from Souq Al-Arsa, where the rug was exhibited in 2007 for the Sharjah Biennial. It seems to have gone over well. I sure think it’s an amazing idea.
photo © Haupt & Binder: universes-in-universe.de
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Imagine the rugs we could build with all the leftover crap in the desert? Or hell, even just the leftover rugs!!!
Best part of this story – he paid the streetcleaners.
I love this.
I wonder if he did anything about the smell?
It is pretty cool though. Reminds me of the bubble gum wrapper necklaces and bracelets from my youth.