What happens when a glass sculptor blows glass with steel wires from end-of-life tyres?
This innovative experiment was undertaken by glassblower Lisa Hartwig Ericson through the creative initiative Art of Recycling, a concept launched by Swedish Tyre Recycling that invites artists to interpret tyre recycling through their own artistic expression.
Lisa Hartwig Ericson, who is currently completing her Master’s degree in Craft at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, was immediately captivated by the potential of the materials she encountered.
“I was drawn to the small steel particles left over after a tyre’s various components have been separated. These tiny wires formed an intriguing mesh and delicate pattern, and I became curious about what might emerge when combined with transparent glass,” explains Hartwig Ericson.
Her experimental approach yielded unexpected and beautiful results. The steel trapped small air bubbles within the glass, creating an even more fascinating pattern that interacts with light in captivating ways. By placing the glass on a reflective surface, Hartwig Ericson discovered that even more light is reflected into the glass, causing the tiny steel wires to shimmer. In this way, the glass helps us to see the beauty in a material that has been discarded.
“As an artist and designer, it is essential for me to let the material be a co-creator in the process—not only because I enjoy being surprised but also because I believe this approach is crucial when we talk about sustainable development,” she states.
Hartwig Ericson’s work highlights an important perspective shift in how we view materials traditionally seen as waste. Tyres, specifically, come with various perceptions, often viewed simply as waste requiring management. However, in a world facing extreme over-extraction of virgin resources, reconsidering these materials becomes vital.
“We need to shift our perspective from seeing tyres as a problem to recognising them as a solution, from a burden to an asset, from something dull to something attractive, and create conditions that allow us to extract the value that still exists in the material,” Hartwig Ericson reflects.
“The Art of Recycling initiative provides a platform for this exact type of exploration. By bringing together art and recycling—two seemingly contrasting domains—the concept creates opportunities for new insights. Combining art and tyres is unexpected, but it is often in the meeting of such contrasts that new insights emerge,” says Frida Grunewald, communication manager at Swedish Tyre Recycling.Art of Recycling welcomes participation from everyone within the creative sphere, including artists, creators, and designers who wish to interpret tyre recycling through their own artistic expression
