Exploring the aesthetic applications of expanded polystyrene: an interdisciplinary review

Abstract

Some researchers contend that repurposing and reuse of EPS for artistic and aesthetic purposes represents a meaningful step in addressing the environmental challenges associated with its widespread commercial and single-use applications. It is in line with this thought that this review paper seeks to explore the wide range of creative and aesthetic applications of polystyrene across various disciplines, shedding light on its versatility, aesthetics, and functional qualities. The purpose of the review is to ascertain the contribution of the creative field to environmental sustainability through the (re)use of EPS. Taking a qualitative route, this review of literature is guided by the following research questions: (a) What are the inherent properties and characteristics of EPS? (b) In what myriad aesthetic contexts have EPS found utility and application? (c) What are the key challenges associated with employing this material for artistic purposes? Given the difficulty that accompanies the recycling options for EPS, its use in art has become another avenue for extending the material’s end-of-life use. However, the paper found that while some artists contribute to the development of a green society by using discarded EPS in their art, others contribute to the problem by choosing to use virgin EPS for their art because of benefits such as the material’s lightweight, ease of carving, and cheapness. Therefore, this paper recommends that if artists must use EPS, then they should make it a point of duty to go for discarded EPS and other plastic wastes to help the environment.</jats:p>