Location: United States
Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, Benny van der Wal moved to the United States in 1997. His art reflects how humans interact with natural and constructed environments. Benny’s work is utilized by public and private institutions and is exhibited by art galleries and through personal collections.
For more information, please visit www.BennyvanderWal.com.
Mojave Trashscapes is a series of photographs featuring found trash as a way of illustrating that the Mojave Desert is treated as a wasteland. Human feelings of entitlement for the land originated with early European pioneers who thought of the region as a dead zone, and contemporary land-use policies perpetuate the idea that the area is worthless. Every day, destructive activities like testing weapons and dumping garbage occur in the Mojave. The trashscapes reflect social and environmental problems through a visually playful style presenting trash in satirical scenarios.
“Nothing on TV”
“Desert Fungi”
“Road to Nowhere”
“I WAS HERE”
“Shoe Print”
“TVs grow on trees in the Mojave Desert”
“My Bedroom Outside”
“Cairns”
