A ‘transformer’ that was born of materials that were in the trash became a source of pride for the population of Maracaibo, Venezuela. All thanks to the creativity of Yhorby Ventura, a cooling technician that marks the difference.
Yhorby Ventura, a cooling technician and Maracaibo artist, Venezuela, has given a new life to materials collected in the trash turning them into animal sculptures and movie characters. The goal is clear: to raise the community for recycling.
Despite the efforts of local authorities to solve the problem of garbage in Maracaibo, which generates about 1,500 tons of garbage daily, cultural habits and infrastructure challenges persist, so the Venezuelan decided to put hands on work.
“I assumed this responsibility as a direct victim and as a citizen”
It all started with the reuse of waste found near its home and workshop in the state capital of Zulia, the former center of Venezuela’s oil industry. From garbage to art was a small step when the Venezuelan, who also studied graphic design and photography, began to display his works of art in front of his home.
“When I moved here, there was ground in front of my house and people had a habit of throwing the trash there or pouring it there. Until twice a year, they incinerated that trash and all who lived around were affected. So I decided, ‘No, I need to do something as a direct victim and as a citizen to raise people to stop trash,” he said.
Character sculptures from film such as Minions and Transformers, animals such as bees or ants, all created from trash, were exposed in Maracaibo and Ventura plans to expand their collection with new creations.
One of the most prominent sculptures is ‘Transformer’, created with “recycled materials of cooling and mechanical workshops, and air conditioning repairs”.
Ventura states that “the one that caught the most attention was Iguana Mollejua”, made of rubber, and which aims to continue its work of awareness for recycling in its community.
