JÜRG CASSERINI, Environmental and space problems 2019, black cooper slags, varied sizes, mixed media

Dumping or disposal of such huge quantities of slag cause environmental and space problems. During the past two decades’ attempts have been made by several researchers and copper producing units all over the world to explore the possible utilisation of copper slag. The favourable physical-mechanical characteristics of copper slag predestine it to make products like cement, filler, ballast, abrasive aggregate, roofing granules, glass, tiles etc. allowing to recover the valuable metals by various extractive metallurgical routes.

Black copper slag is a stony waste matter separated from metals during smelting or refining of copper ore. It contains materials like iron, alumina, calcium oxide, silica, and others. For every ton of metal produced about 2.2 tons of slag is generated.

'I discovered a source of this material in Leyte, Philippines during my visits to Calamity/Aid projects supported by the Swiss Government. This black-silver shiny material is ideal as a base for my artwork. The colour and the structure of slag is an outstanding recycled material. By using slag, acrylic paint, and natural recycled products, I create a new dimension of mixed media art combination. By creating art with this material, I can bring some of this recycled material to a different form of life.' - Jürg Casserini

Jürg Casserini is an artist and retired Consular and Diplomatic Representative for the Swiss Government. In over 40 years, he has been working in 16 countries at the Swiss Embassies, Foreign Interest Sections, and Consulates General. His extensive experience in abroad made him philosophize and create meaningful art. He collects found-objects from the Philippine sea and turns it into abstract art.