Vancouver photographer Michelle Huisman is turning discarded vapes and cigarette butts into art with her new exhibition, Vapes & Butts, at Gallery 881. The exhibit runs from May 6 to June 6, with an opening reception on May 7 and an artist talk on May 23.
Beauty in Waste
Huisman's series features 22 artist-proof prints and a hand-bound book of 24 images. Partial proceeds from sales will benefit the Canadian Cancer Society. The project follows her earlier series on discarded face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Pandemic.
"Part of this project is about awareness — of the environmental impact, but also of the habits themselves," Huisman said. She draws inspiration from Irving Penn's Cigarettes series, which photographed cigarette butts from New York streets. Unlike Penn's black-and-white images, Huisman uses vibrant colors to reflect the design of disposable vapes, which target younger demographics.
Environmental Impact
Huisman notes that according to the World Health Organization, roughly 15 million adolescents aged 13–15 use e-cigarettes worldwide. In some countries, teens are up to nine times more likely to use them than adults. The exhibition aims to highlight the environmental damage caused by these products.
Each print requires a complex process using four negatives, with printing alone taking about five days per image. Huisman began collecting vapes while walking her dog near an alternative high school. "They're bright, colourful, impossible to ignore," she said.
The exhibition is on view at Gallery 881, located at 881 E Hastings Street in Vancouver. For more information, visit michellehuisman.com or gallery881.com.
