현대 예술에서 폐기물의 예술적 활용과 의미 연구

초록

This study explores the understanding of waste within the context of the Anthropocene, a geological epoch characterized by profound human impact on Earth’s ecosystems. Rejecting the conventional definition of waste as mere inert debris or a byproduct of consumption, this research repositions it as an interconnected entity imbued with latent vitality and agency. Grounded in Jane Bennett’s theory of vital materialism, this paper examines the mechanisms through which discarded objects undergo artistic recontextualization to recover their non-human agency and "thing-power." To achieve this, the investigation is structured into three continuous phases. First, it analyzes the multifaceted socio-ecological position of waste in the Anthropocene, tracing how spatial relocation and aesthetic transformation induce critical epistemological shifts regarding environmental crises. Second, it establishes a theoretical framework based on vital materialism, defining waste as an active agent that dynamically interacts with human actors rather than functioning as a passive medium. Finally, the study provides an empirical analysis of contemporary eco-sculpture and installation artists who utilize waste to critically deconstruct modern anthropocentrism and the overproduction structures of global capitalism. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that waste art transcends mere ecological illustration. By revealing the generative potential of vibrant matter, it offers a crucial aesthetic and ethical discourse capable of addressing the challenges of the current ecological crisis. Through this synthesis of theoretical inquiry and artistic practice, the paper redefines the aesthetic value of waste and suggests new horizons for ecological art in contemporary society.

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