UNITED STAR OF EUROPE
The UNITED STAR OF EUROPE is the result of an EU art project that I launched in December 2022. Via a call on Instagram, I asked trash collectors and artists from the 27 member states of the European Union to send yellow plastic trash they collected outside, photos and a text about themselves and their environmental activities.
From this waste, I created the 150 cm × 150 cm UNITED STAR OF EUROPE, shaped like one of the stars of the European flag. This page documents the development of the project as well as texts and photos by the project participants.
The Star was first exhibited in 2024 in my exhibition TRASH MY WAY at the Federal Environment Agency in Dessau. It symbolises the plastic waste problem that affects us all, while at the same time representing the many people who are not only aware of the problem but are actively doing something about it.
THE PARTICIPANTS
On 9 April 2024, the collection was complete. 61 project participants and groups had sent yellow plastic waste from all 27 EU member states, as well as texts and photos. Click on the country links below to read their stories.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
EXHIBITIONS AND RECOGNITION
| Special exhibition “The UNITED STAR OF EUROPE – How Europe Tackles Waste”, 10 September to 8 October 2026
From 10 September 2026, the UNITED STAR OF EUROPE will be on display at Europa Experience at the European House in Berlin. The opening event included a moderated discussion with TrashmaidBerlin and Member of the European Parliament Oliver Schenk.
Key details at a glance
When: 10 September to 8 October, daily from 10 am to 6 pm
Where: Europa Experience, Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin
Exhibition dates: September 10 to October 8, 2026
Admission: Free
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| Group Exhibition Democracy and Climate April-Mai 2026
The UNITED STAR OF EUROPE was selected by a jury through an international open call for the exhibition Democracy and Climate A total of 16 works were included.
The exhibition was presented by Group Global 3000, an artist-run, non-commercial project space for sustainable art in Berlin-Kreuzberg, dedicated to ecological and social issues in contemporary art.
Democracy and Climate explored the relationship between democratic participation and effective climate action, asking how societies can respond to the climate crisis through collective responsibility, informed dialogue, and long-term thinking. The exhibition brought together international artistic perspectives that connect environmental awareness with civic engagement and invited visitors to reflect on their own role within these processes.
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| Shortlisted for the Social Art Award 2025
More than 920 works from around the world were submitted for the Social Art Award 2025 – Planetary Healing: Blue Tribes for Ocean Health. Ten of them were nominated for the award by the jury. The UNITED STAR OF EUROPE was among the final top 10 nominees selected by the jury.
The UNITED STAR OF EUROPE is a collective work—shaped not only from plastic waste collected in all 27 EU member states, but also by the symbolic meaning of this material. Each fragment represents the ongoing commitment of those across Europe who work every day for the good of our planet. This nomination, therefore, is not mine alone—it is a tribute to all those striving for a cleaner and better future.
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| Jury Feedback
„As one of the Top 10 shortlisted finalists, your work stood out for its originality, symbolic strength, and the commitment to uniting voices across all 27 EU member states. [...]
The Jury appreciated: - A strong concept and visual metaphor using yellow plastic EU stars to express urgency and unity
- Impressive activation of a trans-European grassroots network
- Clear alignment with the Social Art Award theme through focus on plastic pollution and collective care."
Social Art Award 2025 Jury Coordination Team
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| The Social Art Award Book 2025
The Star is featured in The Social Art Award Book 2025, which presents the 100 selected projects chosen by the jury.
Free download
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| Solo Exhibition TRASH MY WAY
The star was shown to the public for the first time from October 10 to November 28, 2024, at the Federal Environment Agency in Dessau as part of the solo exhibition TRASH MY WAY. |
SOURCES/LINKS
Original map of Europe by: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/europe-map-vector_333750.htm
