Welcome to the Reuse Museum! Everything here has been found, rescued, inherited, gifted, or from Freecycle, Trash Nothing, charity shops, homemade or collected from travels. Trash or rubbish can be rescued, repurposed and rethought – because all materials matter.
Meet Materials Matter Goddess
The Materials Matter Goddess is the work of Manda Helal, founder of the Reuse Museum, and her own warrior for reuse.
She’s inspired by Durga, the many armed Hindu goddess of peace, often depicted seated on a tiger. Manda was gifted a picture of her, which became the starting point for this piece.
“I have been using found objects and materials for my own artwork for many years. I regard travelling to India as my education in reuse and repair.” – Manda
The Goddess carries the annoying one use plastic waste we rarely think twice about: pitta bread bag ties as bangles, netting copper rings as her garland, a plastic spoon, a hub cap. Each is an item that could easily be swapped for something reusable, a small nudge towards a more circular economy and less waste, shown in a way that’s eye catching and, hopefully, amusing.
“Talking about waste is not exciting or glamorous so it is my attempt to captivate people and draw them into the conversation.” – Manda
Manda particularly likes using found dolls, of which there always seem to be plenty. The bird feeder that forms the cage crinoline for the glamorous Barbie doll was left on her doorstep by a friend.
The Reuse Museum 