Tin Man

Américo Becerra used scrap metal to create hundreds of sculptures with historic themes.

Américo Becerra wants children to learn to make creative use of waste.

"Past, present and future of Corral" is the name of a sculpture that measures 10 meters and weighs 36 tons. Américo Berra was 18 when occupying the place of waste smelter Huachipato old, plunged to the tsunami of Valdivia in 1960.

No wonder it is one of his favorite sculptures, because to do it, the boy, now 28, did the impossible. "We work with tactical divers to recover the basis of the work, which is a crane that was eight feet deep. The bulldozer refloated. In addition, book tells the story of that place, "he says when it has been almost ten years of achievement and exhibitions of his sculptures have traveled much of southern Chile. The innovative, if anything, is that each of his creations is built with metal scrap material you are passionate about and through which is counting processes of human history. "There are works that allude to evolution, the industrial revolution, the development of transport, focusing mainly on education of children, young people," says.

But the history of this artist starts much earlier, when he was 8 years and was a student in art school over Claudio Arrau, Chillán. "It was extremely restless, then experimented with painting, theater, screen and other things. My dad was a professor of art, and that was always super present in my home. "Until the day he became interested in the iron and metals. Such was their need to know this material did not hesitate to study at the Liceo Industrial San Agustín de Puñual just to familiarize and learn how to handle waste." There were able to understand the concerns of this student a little eccentric, "he laughs today. And then the adventure began: blades, engines, pieces of iron, tin, debris was used to start the colorful displays the sculptor:" I see shapes, volumes, not only iron. Also, try to play and speak very little pieces. A company that recycles materials paid 50 pesos a kilo of iron. By buying in smaller quantities, I sold it to me 500 pesos a kilo. It was hard to find materials. Imagine a work weighs at least 10 kilos. "

Self-taught and Professor

I was leaving the school the subject was taken seriously and decided not to study art at any university, and continue as self-taught, as had been until then. No regrets, because in the nine years that have elapsed, sculptures crowned several places in Chile. Sum 60 exhibitions, and has toured rural schools taking his art lost, giving them access to young people and teaching how to recycle. For that reason, she now teaches art and reuse of materials. "I do not have to be selfish with the knowledge, we must pass right through, so that the experiences are repeated and so that others learn to use creative elements." Now he is preparing his landing in Santiago, with a work of art that is in the Museo Interactivo Mirador, which summarize his entire career

One of the works of sculptor Amerigo Becerra

Recycle Expo organized by CONAMA, with over 70 exhibitors-including businesses, municipalities, social organizations, public institutions and NGOs-who reveal their experiences on waste minimization and reuse. The fair also presents the art show "Art Money: From Death to Life, the sculptor Amerigo Becerra, who presents 50 works made recycled scrap.