The Piano Transformation Design Challenge 2023
Above: From an earlier Piano Transformation Design Challenge, Benjamin Reddan's Mittag piano jewellery box made from a Mittag (Germany) piano.
Sadly, according to the people at Pianos Recycled, 'About 2,900 pianos will end in Victoria’s landfills in the next years. These pianos contain high quality materials that can be reused, repurposed and/or recycled'.
The Piano Transformation Design Challenge 2023 is an exhibition that opens May 18 at Kingston Arts Centre 979 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin, Victoria. Presented within Melbourne Design Week, the exhibition will feature objects crafted from recycled piano parts by local makers, including Anton Gerner, Benjamin Reddan, William Hancock, Port Phillip Mens Shed and Brian Falkenberg.
The challenge to design and create something unique and handmade from piano parts was issued to local makers and maker communities by collaborating with eco-innovation partners in local government, education (such as KIOSC/Swinburne and RMIT Design), industry (including the Australian Furniture Association and Victorian Woodworkers Association), and non-profit sectors (such as Guitars Gathering Dust and the Piano Project).
During the exhibition, a live project will take place to create an 'exploded' piano display of most of the 12,000 parts that make up a piano. There will be onsite and/or online presentations throughout the exhibition period. Additionally, the exhibition will present piano information and history for educational purposes.
In the video below Mike Hendry, Pianos Recycled CEO explains the benefits of developing circular economies, where valuable materials are recycled.