Armenian Artist Turns Children’s Old Toys Into Art, Urging Us to Rethink What We Throw Away
What happens to children’s toys when they are no longer wanted? Armenian artist Ani Hovak has found a way to give them a second life, transforming old playthings into works of art.
Hovak, whose full name is Ani Hovakimyan, presented her creations at the United Nations biodiversity conference, COP17, in Yerevan, where The Armenian Report spoke with her about her work.
Instead of throwing away toys that children have outgrown, Hovak uses them as materials for new pieces. Objects that once served as entertainment become part of artistic compositions, keeping them out of the trash and giving them a new purpose.
Her work also raises questions about how quickly everyday items are discarded. Toys, often made from plastic and other materials that are difficult to recycle, can remain in the environment long after children stop playing with them.
By incorporating these objects into her art, Hovak shows that extending the life of everyday materials does not always require industrial recycling. Sometimes, it begins with finding another use for something already at hand.
The artist has previously worked with discarded materials, including rusted metal, mattress springs and fruit pits, making reuse a recurring part of her creative practice.
Her presentation at COP17 brought that approach to an international gathering focused on protecting nature and addressing biodiversity loss.
While world leaders and environmental experts discussed conservation policies, Hovak’s exhibition offered visitors a familiar example of how waste can be reduced through creativity.
For toys that might otherwise have ended up in a landfill, the next chapter is an unexpected one: a place in an artist’s work.
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