Artist Lin Shih-pao (林世寶) is embarking on a project to use 24,000 recycled cellphones to build the frame of an eco-friendly model racing car.
Lin, 53, has diplomas from the Nagoya University of Arts and New York University and excels in creating art installation projects.
His works have been featured in many international exhibitions, with renowned works such as the Gate of Wisdom, created with 300,000 donated pens, exhibited at the Aichi World Expo, Japan, in 2005, and The Pink, an art installation in the form of a car made from gloves collected from laborers.
 
                    Photo: Weng Yu-huang, Taipei Times
Lin said The Pink was a tribute to Taiwanese farmers.
After going on display in the US, the installation was shipped back to Taiwan and toured the nation.
Lin said his latest project, F1 Green Race Car, is intended to showcase how humanity’s technological advancements have depleted the planet’s resources and increased pollution.
“The ‘F1’ work represents hopes for human technology to transition to a cleaner energy source,” Lin said.
Lin has collected more than 20,000 recycled cellphones with the assistance of the US-based Crystal Foundation, but he still needs 3,000 more to complete the project.
He is calling on members of the public to send their disused cellphones to Nanshan Senior High School in New Taipei City.
The completed art installation is scheduled to go on display in Taipei on Nov. 9.

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