Inside HILife: ‘repurpose’ at town

Craig T. Kojima /ckojima@starbulletin.com

By Joleen Oshiro / joshiro@starbulletin.com

Those looking to succeed in the new order of resourcefulness and economy can look to two local artists for their lead.

A joint art show by Maikai Tubbs and Otto, “repurpose,” on display at town restaurant, presents their perspectives on materialism, waste and reuse.
“I like to use things that normally would be trashed,” says Otto, whose pieces at town include paintings of killer ants and sculptures of orbs. “People like to buy something that ‘looks cute,’ but when it gets old and isn’t cute anymore, they throw it out. I like to recycle things in my art and give it another life.

“You can papier-mache almost anything and make it your own,” he continues. “I usually use layers of newspaper to cover old canvases … and they become brand new.”

Tubbs says he’s been “a junk collector for as long as I know.” It’s a habit he believes is rooted in the thrifty values of his Chinese grandmother.

“My Nana is always saving stuff. You know those slabs of wood from the kamaboko? She keeps all of those. She says we could use them as bookmarks,” he says with a hearty laugh. “And she’s into containers. Coffee cans: saved. Mayonnaise jars: saved. My Nana has like five typewriter stands which she piles more junk on. Sometimes when she’s cooking, my auntie (tries to get rid) of things … but if Nana sees her stuff at Goodwill or Salvation Army, she buys it back!”

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