David Macaluso paints with used motor oil.

For Brooklyn-based artist David Macaluso, it’s all about oil.

Motor oil, that is.

Used motor oil, to  be exact.

You see, Macaluso has been painting with the stuff since 2005.

Why? Because used motor oil, he says, represents both an artistic exercise in recycling and a powerful metaphor for this time in world history.

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On show recently at Designers & Agents Green Room, Aurora Robson’s unique artwork has been a refreshing combination of intricate patterns and colours. Her work uses recycled materials that are stylishly highlighted with solar-powered LEDs.

Aurora Robson, hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a contemporary artist who works with installations, works on paper, paintings, sculpture, video, photography, and performance art. She would like to describe herself as being primarily a sculptor.

For her recent show at Designers & Agents Green Room, Aurora made use of about 20,000 plastic bottles from the landfill. She uses recycled materials in her works of art to such an extent where she enjoys receiving junk mail because “it gives her new material to create her work.”

“The language and costly graphic devices and fancy printing used in junk mail gives it a persuasive, positive and personal flavour, making it great fodder for my work. My practice is ultimately about recognising and embracing new possibilities and displays and encouraging others to do the same,” she said.

Some of Aurora Robson’s outstanding pieces of art included works involving plastic bottles carved, cut and twisted into what one critic described as “romantic, unrecognizable forms.”

In short, like all good artists using recycled materials as their medium, Aurora Robson transforms the trash into things of beauty shrouded in mystery.

Quite inspiring, isn’t it?

[via Inhabitat]

The Paris Motor Show is ongoing as I write in Europe’s love capital and we have some juicy news from Nissan who decided to surprise us all today. Nissan Nuvu is the latest concept car announced by the Japanese carmaker, an electric car that will revolutionize urban transportation in … 2015.

Why can’t we get our hands on this tiny car faster? Why do we need to wait 7 more years? Because Nissan already has an all-electric car for us rolling out in a couple of years. More precisely in 2010.

Less than three meters long, the new Nissan Nuvu – which translates into “new view”, is capable to seat three but we’re not betting our money on comfort here. It should also be really quiet because it’s electric and it uses recycled or made from organic cabin materials. I’d sure like to take it for a quick spin, even though I weigh more than it does.

Check out more pictures after the break. (more…)