From Disposable to Remarkable
The Artist
Fairest ((b. The Netherlands, 1985) showcases the resilience and beauty in the disposable, triggering a shift in societal perspectives.
Fairest’s journey was triggered by a life-changing event in a crowded Manhattan subway station. While on his knees experiencing cardiac arrest, ignored by passersby, his life was saved by a “homeless” man. Ironically, one “perceived” disposable member of society, illuminated society’s indifference to another disposable member. Breaking through the urban detachment, this man took Fairest’s phone and called 911.
Though he survived this life-altering incident Fairest sustained permanent heart damage, warranting the implantation of an S-ICD device. This transformation altered how the outside world perceived his “value”: An object with a defect. His narrative symbolizes the enduring beauty and worth found in what society often deems disposable—whether objects, values, ideas, or even human life.
This experience formed the foundation for his reexamination of the nature of disposability. Perfectly usable items were wastefully discarded, reflecting the disregard for material items, and illustrating the diminishing respect for people, values, historical legacy, and the planet’s future. His art symbolizes both a rebirth of discarded objects and a renewed appreciation for overlooked value in the disposed and the discarded.
POWERED BY TECHNOLOGY
This life-altering incident left Fairest with permanent heart damage, warranting the implantation of an S-ICD device which was ironically poetic for someone working in the technology sector.
