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Recycled Colored Glass Transformed into Artworks. Source: Green Journey Project

Originating in the process of making a recycled playground for children, the Green Journey Project opened by Bui Manh Hung and Le Hoai Nam to create art from discarded glass bottles is not only an environmental protection project but also opens a new path for sustainable art in Vietnam.

Le Hoai Nam, co-founder of the Green Journey Project shared that the project once was a social enterprise operating in the field of building recycled playgrounds for children. Initially, members of the recycled playground for children processed and reused many types of materials such as plastic, tires, rubber and glass. Among them, glass is a material that is particularly difficult to recycle and is often overlooked even though the amount released into the environment is very large and has the potential to cause pollution due to the sharpness of the broken pieces.

The Green Journey Project officially launched in July 2024 and quickly launched the first product in October of the same year. The works were introduced at an Eco Fair organized by European embassies in Vietnam. The warm reception from the community and partners was the driving force behind the group's development of a model for mass-producing glass paintings.

According to Nam, the paintings initially used broken glass pieces assembled into images. The glass pieces kept their natural colors depending on the original bottle color. After that, the group developed an additional step of surface treatment, coating with a solution to ensure transparency, increase adhesion, and prevent mold.

Not all journeys were smooth. During the testing process, the group used pre-purchased glass, organized experiential workshops at schools and in the community. However, when they found that it was not enough to educate the environment and the process of transporting the paintings to customers was inconvenient. Finally, the group decided to collect used glass from businesses, beverage shops, and environmental community groups for recycling.

The collected glass will be pre-processed, cleaned, and crushed, then polished to ensure safety. The painter will choose the pieces of glass depending on each painting to ensure the artistry and message conveyed.

These products are used for decoration or as gifts, creating a more meaningful life-cycle for glass. Photo: Khanh Long/VNP

The paintings will be coated with a solution to create transparency on the surface. Photo: Khanh Long/VNP

The project regularly cooperates with students from fine arts, architecture and art pedagogy universities to develop ideas and make paintings. This combination has created works of high visual value, while spreading the message of green living in a profound and emotional way.

In addition to production, the Green Journey Project also continuously organizes workshops at universities or residential areas. Experiential activities such as making glass paintings not only help participants understand the creative process but also raise awareness of environmental protection.

Recycled glass art transforms discarded materials into captivating designs, while giving artists the opportunity to contribute positively to the environment. Source: Green Journey Project

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