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Gyöngy Laky
In the 1990s, Gyöngy Laky and other
artists received a box of industrial waste
from Johnson Wax, derived from its man-
ufacturing process to use in making art.
Graceful Exit (Radical Ornament) was
the result. Laky was enthusiastic about
the Johnson Wax project. That such a big
and powerful company would acknowl-
edge that its waste material could have
a life beyond its commercial use was an
example for other corporations. Many
artists at that time were addressing reuse,
recycling, post-consumer life for discards.
Here was a major company joining the
conversation. Laky began to refer to ma-
terials addressing sustainability as “indus-
trial harvesting” a parallel to her gathering
natural materials from orchards for other
works. By-products, not waste!
21L.1 Graceful Exit
discards from Johnson Wax
13” x 21” x 21”, 1994
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