The Message of Detritus in the Twenty-first Century: Costa Rican Contemporary Art Made from Waste

This article studies the issue of consumer waste through artistic interventions by Costa Rican artists Francesco Bracci, Roberto Lizano and Montserrat Mesalles, who use waste as their medium to express environmental concerns. Bracci critiques and raises awareness on irresponsible consumption of goods; Lizano is fascinated by the trajectory of waste; and Mesalles reinstates life to discards, spreading notions of functionality. This article discusses ways artists embrace ecologism and inserts this trope within the wider gamut of artistic practice among Costa Rican artists today.