F
or the majority of us on the planet, technology
powers our day. From the alarm that wakes us up to
the mobile phone that orbits our person at all times,
to the Wifi that keeps us connected with invisible
tethers, many of us rely on technology to manoeuvre social
dynamics and maximize our daily efficiency.
While mobile phones were once single versions of a brand
name, Apple is now on the 8th version of their iPhone and
Samsung has recently released their Galaxy S9, demonstrating
the endless product reform that permeates the Digital Age.
This habitual tendency to upgrade products to the latest
model has quickly taken its toll on our natural world and
consumer psychology, contributing to the ‘throwaway-society’
we have become. In relation to the environment, the materials
excavated to produce our endless stream of gadgets are non-
renewable and limited; additionally, they are often discarded
Benjamin Von Wong | RethinkAndRecycle.com
without being recycled when the consumer upgrades from one
product to another.
In his provocative eye-opener, Rethink, Recycle, Revive,
innovative photographer Benjamin Von Wong—alias Von
Wong—paired up with technology giant, Dell, to address
the importance of sustainable production and confront the
‘E-waste’ of discarded electronic devices.
“I’ve always wanted to have a positive impact on the world
around me, but I was a little more focused on how to stand out
as an artist when I first began,” Von Wong shares in an exclusive
interview with INSPADES, “With my E-waste campaign [with
Dell], the hope was to try to get more than just views.”
In an effort to drive the conversation, raise awareness
and prompt more recycling, Von Wong’s creative campaign
consisted of striking, futuristic imagery—a glamorous
approach to a practical topic—with traction to go viral.