Filmed over nearly three years, Waste Land (2010) follows artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home in Brooklyn to his native Brazil, and the world’s largest garbage dump located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of “catadores”—self-designated pickers of recyclable materials. His collaboration with these inspiring characters as they recreate photographic images of themselves out of garbage reveals both the dignity and despair of the catadores as they begin to re-imagine their lives.
Muniz’s artwork incorporates a multiplicity of unlikely materials into this photographic process. Often working in series, Muniz has used dirt, diamonds, sugar, string, chocolate syrup and garbage to create bold, witty and often deceiving images drawn from the pages of photojournalism and art history.
The film will be followed by a Q & A with Lesley A. Martin, publisher of the Aperture book program and editor of Reflex: A Vik Muniz Primer, and Katonah Museum of Art curator Ellen Keiter.
KMA members will receive the JBFC member discount for up to two tickets when they show their museum membership card at the Film Center box office or redeem their online purchase. Tickets will be available beginning mid-December online at www.burnsfilmcenter.org/education, or at the box office, which opens at 12 pm on weekdays and 11 am on weekends.