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In a small studio in Istanbul, Türkiye, artist Songul Soydan is turning an unlikely material, discarded aluminum beverage cans collected from coastal areas, into striking three-dimensional sculptures and artistic compositions.
Soydan's work, photographed in her studio on July 28, 2026, reflects a growing global movement among artists who use upcycled materials to draw attention to environmental issues.
The cans used in her pieces are gathered directly from beaches and coastal areas, where aluminum waste is a common and persistent form of litter.
Rather than discarding the collected cans, the artist repurposes them using an original technique she developed herself, reshaping the flattened or crushed metal into new artistic forms.
Her process transforms ordinary waste material into layered, three-dimensional compositions that highlight both the versatility of aluminum and the scale of environmental waste.
Each piece created by Soydan carries a dual purpose, functioning as a work of visual art while also serving as a statement about pollution and the importance of recycling.
By working directly with materials sourced from nature, Soydan's art bridges the gap between environmental activism and contemporary artistic practice.
Her studio in Istanbul serves as both a workspace and a kind of laboratory, where discarded materials are tested, shaped, and reassembled into new forms through trial and experimentation.
Through her upcycled sculptures, Soydan aims to raise public awareness about environmental responsibility, encouraging viewers to reconsider the potential value hidden within everyday waste.
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