The Faculty of Design at ARUCAD recently organized a Robinson Crusoe Workshop at Balalan beach in the Karpaz area of North Cyprus (24th to 26th of April). The aim of the workshop was to stage a massive beach clean-up and utilize the trash collected for the design of a structure to raise awareness of sea pollution and the damage it causes to our environment.
Every year thousands of tons of garbage winds up in the Mediterranean Sea, with 60% of that being composed of plastic material. The three-day workshop allowed for an intensive trash collection from the Balalan coastline, followed by a design and build session on site. ARUCAD students and staff alike, participated in the event and the final sculpture design evolved into a Totem Pole of symbols to communicate their concerns over environmental pollution. The final design of the Totem Pole sculpture was transported to Mehmetcik Village where it was greeted by the Mayor of Mehmetcik, Mr. Cemil Saricizmeli, and assembled in the Central Village Square. Participants of the workshop were then invited by the Mayor to a barbecue hosted by the local municipality.
It is hoped that the sculpture will become a talking point and increase public consciousness of the effects of trash on the planet. The Design Faculty at ARUCAD wishes to see this event take place on an annual basis and hopes that more participants will become involved in the process.
The Design Faculty at ARUCAD wishes to thank the Mayor of Mehmetcik, Mr. Cemil Saricizmeli, for his support and hospitality during the event and all of the participants for their hard work and efforts throughout the three-day workshop.