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Finely Rendered Birds and Animals Cling to Dried Flowers in Steeven Salvat’s Wheatpastes

12 Jan, 2024

This post was originally published on Colossal

four bird wheatpastes cover a conical structure with a cupola on top in a lush green landscape with brick buildings on either side

All images © Steeven Salvat, shared with permission

Sprouting between windows and tucked around corners, Steeven Salvat’s wheatpastes add a dose of natural history to everyday urban life. The French artist has spent the last few years meticulously rendering gem- and mechanic-encrusted beetles and butterflies, amassing a vast insectarium that draws attention to the intersections of art, science, and history and underscores the preciousness of each creature.

During the last two years, though, Salvat has begun to consistently work outdoors and on walls, creating public pieces that capture his painstaking linework on a larger scale. Whether painted in acrylic or slathered with wheatpaste, the realistic renderings are similarly detailed and delicate, conveying the smooth fur of a field mouse or the fluffed plumage of a bird mid-flight. Many of his recent works, part of the ongoing Petite Nature project, pair renditions of oversized dried flowers with tiny creatures “to awaken awareness on the fragility of ecosystems such as grasslands and natural water points, often sacrificed in the name of urbanisation.”

In addition to the wall works, Petite Nature also features smaller drawings on paper, which will be on view in January at Le Cabinet d’Amateur in Paris. Salvat generously shares glimpses into his process on Instagram, and you can find originals, prints, and postcards in his shop.

 

a wheatpaste of a bird and a brown leaf on a yellow wall between two windows

left: a wheatpaste of a dead bird with two yellow flowers growing from its body. right: a wheatpaste of a bird perched a sprig of small white flowers

a painted acrylic mural of two birds perched in bright red floweres on a blue wall

a wheatpaste of a mouse resting atop a bright red flower on a black wall

left: a bird with a scissors and surrounded by red and blue string flies on a wall with a woman dressed in black passing in front. right: a bird with a scissors and surrounded by red and blue string flies on a wall

a woman in a puffy black coat touches the ornate blue and white cage of a yellow bird on a perch in a wheatpaste

a woman in white walks past a wall with a wheatpaste depicting a small reptile curled around a yellow dried flower

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Finely Rendered Birds and Animals Cling to Dried Flowers in Steeven Salvat’s Wheatpastes appeared first on Colossal.

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Circularity roadmap for construction industry announced

Circularity roadmap for construction industry announced

World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) has launched the Asia Pacific Regional Network (APN) Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework, presented at the WorldGBC hosted accelerator session, ‘Retrofitting buildings: Lessons from a global network’, as part of the World Circular Economy Forum 2025 (WCEF2025), a global event dedicated to the circular economy.

Developed by WorldGBC’s APN of 17 Green Building Councils (GBCs) as well as knowledge partners, the framework is a practical roadmap aimed at policymakers and businesses across the region to assess their circularity readiness and identify strategic priorities for action to decarbonise their building stock on both a national and regional scale.

The framework can be used as a tool to quantify the business case for circular, sustainable principles in the built environment, and support businesses and governments to reduce waste, conserve resources and lower carbon emissions. It shows the industry the practical steps it can take now towards circularity, based on its current capabilities. It sets out clear assessment criteria, specific readiness indicators and actionable guidance based on five interconnected elements:

Government leadership: Policies and regulations driving circularity at all levels.
Technical solutions: Innovative approaches enabling resource efficiency and circular material flows.
Data: Measurement systems tracking resource use and circularity progress.
Finance: Funding mechanisms supporting circular business models and infrastructure.
Mindset: Cultural shifts prioritising resource conservation and sustainable consumption.
 

The Framework further supports WorldGBC’s 2025–2027 strategic plan, which outlines the vision for a sustainable built environment, guided by global 2030 decarbonisation goals.

Joy Gai, Head of Asia Pacific Network, WorldGBC said, “The framework has been developed by sustainability experts from the Asia–Pacific, one of the most diverse regions in the world, which is defined by remarkable complexities of culture, building stocks and environmental conditions. Our network recognises that harnessing diversity is fundamental to shaping a more resilient, resource-efficient future — but we need a guide to show us how to put our ambition into action. That is why we developed the APN Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework.

“WorldGBC is proud to join our Green Building Councils and partners in launching this timely resource. It creates a common language to guide businesses through collaboration, identifying their needs and applying circular methods which support our shared vision for a sustainable and regenerative future for Asia–Pacific and beyond.”

Jeff Oatman, chair of the Asia Pacific Regional network, Head of Collaboration and membership at Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), added, “The Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework is a timely and much-needed initiative to accelerate the transition to a more regenerative and resource-efficient built environment across our region. By offering a clear pathway for assessing readiness and driving action, it empowers governments, industry and communities to make smarter, more sustainable decisions around circularity. I’m proud to be part of this collaboration and to contribute to a tool that not only fosters innovation but also supports practical outcomes that matter for people and the planet.”

Takuji Kohama, Chief Representative, AGC Group for Asia Pacific, also commented, “A resilient built environment relies on understanding ecological interconnections and making a conscious shift from linear consumption to cyclical resource stewardship. Designing buildings and infrastructures with their lifecycle in mind maximises material efficiency and minimises waste through a holistic approach from resource sourcing to end-of-life. Prioritising design for disassembly, material recovery, reuse and repurpose transforms buildings into dynamic material banks, significantly reducing construction’s environmental impact and fostering economic and environmental sustainability.

“Participating in the formulation of Resources and Circularity Readiness Framework offers a practical path to sustainable growth in our resource-constrained and climate-challenged region. This framework empowers built environment stakeholders to adopt a regenerative, resilient mindset focused on long-term value creation, redefining design, construction and living beyond waste minimisation. We aim to catalyse greater collaboration, innovation and systemic change, positioning AGC as a regional leader in circular economy practices and a model for urban sustainability.”

GBCs will use the framework to assess their own readiness to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the built environment, as well as supporting the Asia–Pacific market. To find out more, head to the Green Building Council of Australia website.

Image credit: iStock.com/Benjamas Deekam

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