Mapping cities through metal crown caps as part of exploring urban and human identity
TheCAPproject rediscovers the urban environment and re-introduces it to the public through a unique, map, pointing out a key element that makes up the city’s identity. By collecting metal crown caps and forming a chart of the findings, the project aims to bring environmental awareness through an artistic scope, engaging people to art and contemporary issues. This initiative aspires to create a safe community where people can share their stories, inspire others and create a space of belongingness
Cross-border/international
Germany
Portugal
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: France
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Poland
Hamburg, Berlin, Lisbon, Paris, Gdańsk
Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
TheCAPproject focuses on matters of urban identity, public space, community and environmentally friendly practices by touching sociopolitical issues created by a civilization of unreachable standards.
It started the 2nd day of October 2022 in Hamburg, Germany when I noticed that glass bottle metal crown caps are everywhere on the streets, the grass, the lakes etc. I recognized this object as a unique characteristic of the urban identity and an integral part of the industrial culture and local society. It represents people and holds inside stories, moments and the spirit of the city that is specified by it’s people who make the city unique.
By collecting caps I came across I noticed there was no place that you can’t find a single cap all around the city. After a few days of actively working on the accumulation of the object, a map begun to form. “The caps are a way to creatively map the city and explore new locations from a different perspective, while protecting the environment”. The idea evolved into gathering data such as location, distance walked, caps picked, time consumed etc. and also data regarding the manufacturing, the companies and their practices and more.
The “zero” phase of the project focuses on creating a scientific paper (p0.2.1.) regarding the data gathered. The third phase is about creating a public interactive art installation with all the caps collected (p3.3.) connecting the object ,with the local identity, with references to the data (p1.1.) that will serve as a visible reminder of the environmental impact humans have on the planet.
We will also engage with locals who can share personal stories, each getting linked to a metal cap, presented on an artistic exhibition. The goal is to bring awareness on social problems, inequality, injustice, racism, sexual & gender discrimination etc. We wish to create a community of people that share the same worries, fears and problems, helping them stand in society, face their fears and inspire.
Metal Cap collection
Urban mapping
Identity formation
Environmental art
Social issues
TheCAPproject uses a wasted and abundant product. It’s main and only practice is the collection of metal crown caps which are removed from the environment, in a way that doesn’t harm the biodiversity. In this way our practice guaranties a clean, microplastic free environment (the crown caps contain a plastic part inside) as well as an unproblematic city by preventing the accumulation of the caps, clogged drains and pipes and overall a healthy and hostile space for plants, trees, animals and humans.
Since the rusty and dirty caps cannot be recycled, they will be used for the creation of a public landmark. This will serve as an aesthetic and informative detail of the urban environment but most importantly will be an exemplification for the masses and a reminder of the waste we produce. Adults will acquire knowledge regarding zero waste and circular economy and kids will grow having environmental awareness and sensibility.
The project also seeks engagement with the companies. Thought the familiarization of the people with environmental problems and crisis, and the mobilization of public institutions, there will be a founded ground to seek the attention of the big giants. The main goal is to get a transparent view of their practices, the way they impact the environment and by pressing the government, set laws for more sustainable and greener factories, facilities and industries.
Last but not least, as an artistic project, we also want to inspire young and professional artists. Our project can be an example of how great art can be created by abundant objects, trash and non toxic materials and motivate creatives to use resources like that to transform their ideas into real life art in a sustainable way.
There are many roads, parks and sidewalks that are full of crown caps. The existence of the caps on the ground motivates more people to just throw them away, since trash is already there. By removing them, we make sure no new trash pollutes the ecosystem.
-An observable change, is the clean environment. A clean surrounding can provide psychological benefits while the good use of already existing, abundant material for art will strengthen the environmental and cultural mindset and promote a zero waste way of thinking.
-The same way Paris is characterized by Eiffel Tower, Hamburg, or any place, can be defined by a landmark that represents the city’s industry, the brewing history of the place and the stories of the people. This initiative will lead into acts that promote the culture of the area, it’s past, roots and develop a sense of belonging. The parameters above are tightly connected with civilization and culture and will have great benefits to people enhancing their sense of identity.
-This initiative can motivate artists to implement their ideas to the city. These can be (legal) graffiti, art installations, performances, public art, “trash art/arte povera” etc. Τhe city will liven up through art, beautifying the dull concrete environment of the town and new air of change will come, while locals, and people will visit the city for it’s modern culture. Especially in scenarios where this idea is implemented in small rural areas, an artistic landmark and a unique identity can attract tourists and people which can help support local businesses and also help different people across Europe to connect and interact with cultures.
-The project can motivate companies to be more environmentally aware and adopt practices, that will also upgrade the quality of life for the people of an area. For example factories that operate and pollute the air, the water, and produce waste, can significantly decrease or eliminate these harmful byproducts of the manufacturing process. Bringing awareness can only result to positive changes.
Our main goal is to create a safe and inclusive space, where everyone can feel like they belong somewhere. Art is the main tool on providing people with a sense of belonging and community. One of the unique characteristics of this project and main advantages is just that the citizens are an active factor that contribute to this project. They actually play an important role to the development of the idea cultivating a sense of belonging to a greater cause.
Besides this feeling, people can also connect with others through a platform of shared interests and common identities. This can motivate them on taking art classes and creatively express their thoughts, being able to connect and identify with even more people, creating an even bigger social circle that provides individuals with the sense of community.
TheCAPproject, is about individuals who share personal stories regarding harsh times in their life. This can be a great point of reference for many of all. By sharing their sensitive side, we can all agree that we face the same demons and we don’t differ from each other that much. This approach reconstructs the social idea we all have in mind. This project help us realize the negative impact many influences have on us, and help us regain a feeling of belongingness.
Last but not least, the third phase is a great example as well. The public art installation (p3.3.) will be made up by all the caps collected. The people that will approach the sculpture, will realize that every single cap is different. Even the caps that are the same color or have the same logo on them are totally unique. Some have scratches, others are curved, some others are broken. This is a great example that no matter the visual differences we all have, we all contribute to create something bigger.
Every cap is unique the same way we all are.
The main way citizens will be involved in the initiative is by actually being part of it. As mentioned above the people will be an active part of the project and a big aspect of it will be based on their participation, since our goal, is to make art feel personal. This will happen at the first phase (p1.1.) which is the collection of data by addressing to professionals, academicians, locals and other people, as well as phase three, which regards a more sensitive part, in which people will share personal stories and experiences that will help people identify with them and feel that there is finally space for them.
As already said, we will seek advice, critical piece of information and feedback from different categories of people, both experts, and locals. In this way we can share information regarding the sustainability of the companies that manufacture the crown caps and the beverages, such as their environmental impact and their resources. People will get an idea on how their their food, drinks and eating habits affects the local environment and the planet on bigger scale and on what extend.
A critical side of the project is people and storytelling. Personal stories and traumas will unfold trying to create an inclusive environment where everyone can relate. We all share the same agonies but behind closed doors is difficult to face them. Additionally some people are distanced from any sort of social issues. This sensitive story will get them familiar with real and obscure situations and see beyond their own reality. They will learn to respect diversity and understand everyone that is not similar to them, creating space an all inclusive environment.
Another positive aspect is that people and victims who are not open about their problems yet, can seek for help before it’s too late. This effort can help more people to love and accept themselves and not feel ashamed of their condition, recognizing that they are not alone.
Since this is a new project and haven’t reached the stage of interacting with parties, there is no real data to provide. Bellow we will present you our future approach to different stakeholders, and the way this will happen.
One possible interested party, can be beverage companies (especially local). This project has great advertising possibilities due to its weird nature (manual-collection of crown caps from the streets/10.000 metal bottle caps collected to create a big public sculpture). It can be catchy. This is a great chance for companies to combine the three most attractive ways someone can be advertised; environmental friendly practices, charity and art. There is no guarantee a funding possibility can be secured (this can be an option if we decide to not go against their environmental impact).
Next are the NGOs that specialize on environmental practices and also metal bottle caps. Actually there is one NGO in Hamburg regarding recycling crown caps, even tho with different context and way of approach. A first contact and discussion has been and besides that, it’s definitely on the plans to find a common ground to operate and combine forces to support each other.
Finally, for the same advertising reasons, local political parties, may also be interested in supporting this initiative, in a philanthropic way for a positive image and press. Of course we are interested in every possible contribution, since our main goal is the visible and exemplary environmental impact and the public engagement through art.
When it comes to the public, when we already establish a base of resources, collaborations and popularity, we plan on launching a crowdfunding campaign with low contributions. In this way people can also offer in a more practical way. The plan is basically virtually assigning every contributors name to every cap, so every cap can have an identity in this way as well.
We are trying to approach different specialists on many disciplines that can contribute to the whole initiative in their own way.
1) Developers will help us create an interface where we can import all the data we collect and create a hub for all of our activity!
2) Urban and environmental specialists, can explain the geographical significance of a location, it’s traits, special characteristics, and help us understand the surroundings so to better implement our foundings to our artistic practice.
3) Following are academicians, researchers and PhD students and their approach to information, interviews, and professional feedback on the project, its perspectives, and how they face it.
4) Then we would like to collect informations regarding the local industry from professionals. We will also contact beverage companies to get a take on their facilities and also a deeper picture behind their views on drinks.
5) Ask consumers, what is their criteria on choosing a beverage, if they have any remarkable story regarding their drink and a special occasion etc. This part can be very helping on making the public a more active factor of this project.
6) Local artists and art students can help with the creative part. Interaction with art students and colleagues will also be considered for the feedback.
7) Communication with the municipality and the competent institutions is important to present how the local society will benefit from such an initiative, and how it will upgrade the living quality for the citizens. In this way we can count on permission for a public infrastructure.
8) The final stage for the creation of the public art, are designers, public space architects and artisans to start planning the completion of the public art installation.
9) Besides the public installation, the project will communicate with the people that will share their stories, establish a connection and give them strength, support and a platform to inspire.
Usually, when a state or municipality wants to visually upgrade a park or a square by introducing some art this is masses deriving from natural originated resources e.g. marble, wood, plaster etc. This means that resources and energy is wasted to extract these materials, plus there is extra waste regarding the creation of it. Besides that, the art presented, is decorative, blank, meaningless and generally doesn’t link to the surrounding environment and the city itself, making it indifferent for people and locals to understand and relate to.
TheCAPproject makes 100% use of waste found on the environment of the area, creating a literal and a metaphorical link to the bond with the city. In this way the meaning of connection between people and the city is essential. Every single cap has its own story, from the locals that drunk their beverage and then threw it away, the surroundings, the journey every cap made etc.
The idea is not just cleaning the city from trash and waste. If you are in a room with water overflowing through the tap you will not get the mop and start swiping the floor. You will make the water stop running. This example perfectly reflects what many projects related to this problem do. They collect the trash without providing a way to stop generating them. What we want to establish is local engagement with the problem through creative and inspiring pursuits that will convince the masses to actually face the problem and start making actions.
Finally, one of our principles is making everyday people that have nothing to do with art, part of the process, familiarize them with something different, give them the chance to contribute, engage and learn a different skill they may never would otherwise. Instead of distancing art from people by putting it in prestigious museums and expensive galleries, we try to make art approachable, accessible and inclusive, with stories to tell, that substantially portray people and the surrounding.
By making use of the resources Europe provides, especially for young people, theCAPproject traveled in different European countries using Interail/Eurail. We realized that “the cap problem” is not a local issue, but rather, a widespread matter. There are different cities e.g. Lisbon, Paris, Madrid, where someone can also spot crown caps around the streets, although in different extend.
The project can be integrated in different cities with the same “cap problem”, but, the implementation of the idea doesn’t have to be limited to this object in particular. Every city has its own characteristic elements and of course problems. We can locate what is a unique element about the place and what can be an example of its identity. In Lisbon, red crown caps from a local brewery was also a very distinctive object, especially in contrast to the stone roads, but other places have different wasted resources.
For example, in Thessaloniki, Greece, there is very distinctive “urban living room” problem as I call it. Locals throw away a lot of their furnitures, by simply leaving them next to a trash bin. In this way the city is full of sofas, chairs, broken tables and mattresses, that they have to say a story, represent the expel of the city and the local culture.
TheCAPproject can be an example followed by creatives and professionals, on inspiring an artistic project in their city or even neighborhood, by recycling wasted material and making good use of resources and trashed objects while creating “awareness art”. Of course the art can have different forms, from performance or installation to murals and street art.
Of course, another way of inspiring, is trying to include the local community in the process and make people feel part of the initiative. It’s very important for artists to mobilize the masses, especially older generations and inspire them by making them part of creative actions that promote diversity, engagement, critical thinking and the European spirit.
We want to grab people’s attention and present important and meaningful data. The sustainability of the manufacturing process, the fresh water use, their environmental footprint and climate impact companies have (GC1, GC2), as well as more anthropocentric infos such as child laboring, underpaid workers and more.
The “cap-map” can help us harvest critical information that can present a profile of an area (rich-poor areas). In this way we can create a space of equality and equity for everyone and build a well balanced place that will encourage commutation and conception between different classes and provide people with a sense of acceptance and belonging no matter their economical status (GC7).
The project, can raise awareness and bring visibility to issues and global challenges and present the facts through easy to understand practices. Due to public engagement with locals, workshops can occur and people can get a view on the problems society is facing, provide creative tools for critical thinking and develop a sense of responsibility, cultivating people’s social perception on trying to solve the real issues (GC9).
It can help eliminate conflicts, create a psychological map of individuals and maybe spot potential terrorists. Broken glasses or a lot of beer caps can predispose an environment of intensity and conflict. Social behavior, drinking patterns, beverage choice, can be considered signs that combined together with the help of AI can create a profile of people with delinquent behavior or not (GC10).
Finally, the project can prevent the development of unhealthy and toxic standards in environments kids grow. At a playground we can spot objects such as beer bottle caps, broken glasses and other worrying elements. These small details can help us create safer spaces for kids and guard them from toxic role models, helping kids grow in a healthy environment away from harmful substances (GC8).
