Burnables (燃 も やすごみ to 燃えるゴミ)

Burnables draws inspiration from Japan’s paper products and media. Through the use of collected materials including receipts, informational pamphlets, and newspaper clippings; Matthews’ has constructed large scale collages that aim to capture a portrait of Japan through its burnable garbage. The repetition of geometric forms, color, and grid like patterns create a sense of organized chaos for the viewer; allowing consideration for how the images have adapted through the transformative process of collage as well as room to examine our own collection and consumption habits. Additionally, the work meditates on how products are represented and sold to the public on a mass scale, pointing out complexities of pleasure and excess in our consumer driven lives.