HENDRA ARIMBAWA – TRASHSTOCK FESTIVAL

Inadequate waste management infrastructure and rising plastic consumption are at the heart of this pressing national issue that impacts the environment, ecosystems, and human health. While also affecting the quality of drinking water and other vital water resources. 

Several foundations and campaigns have been launched to address this issue, and the Governor of Bali has banned plastic bags in shops and plastic straws in restaurants, cafes, and bars. 

TrashStock festival is an innovative event that educates about plastic waste and promotes creativity in finding solutions. A festival highlight is an art exhibition featuring stunning works made from recycled materials. It inspires visitors to see trash differently and recognize its creative potential in waste reduction and recycling. 

We chatted with Mr I Putu Hendra Arimbawa (Hendra), one of the founders of TrashStock Festival. 

What was your inspiration behind Trashstock Festival?

Initially, it was a personal motivation because Bali is a stunning island. Tri Hita Karana (a traditional Balinese philosophy) includes Palemahan (“Pale” meaning to sustain or nourish, and “Mahan” meaning environment or nature). Still, elements of society and our behaviour do not reflect that. Arising from my sadness, I had the idea of combining Music and Art into something fun. I invited some musician friends and artists who wanted to tackle the plastic waste problem. 

What prompted you to combine art and environment in a festival?

Our education in Indonesia is lacking, with a heavy emphasis on theoretical knowledge, while creativity, imagination, and melody are lacking in our curriculum at school with dance, music, and fine arts only as extracurriculars, getting one hour a week.  

From here, we try to bring a solution because our brain is less trained to see things that are art and taste. That’s what we make at Trashstock, the taste, the music, the art, and so on.  

How was your journey in organizing and developing Trashstock Festival from inception to a successful event?

We face obstacles because Trashstock is independent, so we must maintain regeneration.  

The Trashstock team is all volunteers, so in terms of organization, we must find new volunteers and people committed to the team every year. After the event, we return to our routines and jobs. 

What is your biggest challenge, and how do you overcome it?

Our challenge at Trashstock is to show that it is not just a frenetic music festival; it has a positive impact. 

We aim to broaden and deepen this impact, as society seems to overlook the growing waste issue, often viewing it as solely the government’s responsibility. Our goal is to change this mindset and encourage people, especially young ones, to take responsibility for trash disposal and reduce plastic waste in their daily lives. 

What are the benefits of collaborating with artists from Bali and beyond to raise awareness about recycling and reducing waste?

At Trashstock, musicians and artists are encouraged to connect with young people, serving as bridges to spread awareness about plastic waste reduction and even to older generations. The festival’s vision is to offer a platform for musicians and artists not engaged by the government or other activities, using music, painting, and art installations made from plastic to educate about plastic waste prevention. 

Do you hold a particular programme to educate and inspire children and teenagers?

We engage children in activities like painting their visions for a healthy environment and conducting workshops. Children bring plastic waste from home, and with artists’ guidance, they create installation art, realizing the artistic and practical potential of recycling plastic waste. 

Teenagers and young adults look up to musicians as role models, especially those who care about the environment and are engaged in activism, like Robi from the band Navicula. With this kind of leadership, teenagers will automatically follow suit, and this is what we try to provide at Trashstock Festival. 

What are your hopes for the future of Trashstock Festival? Have you considered taking Trashstock outside of Indonesia?

We collaborate with France, as one of our co-founders is from there. He raised the issue of plastic waste in Indonesia to a French environmental organization, and Trashstock is open to global collaborations. 

Follow Trashstock on Instagram: @trashstockbali