Dive Brief:

• In his new photo series, Refineries and Gas Stations, artist David LaChapelle transforms discarded waste into pieces of art.
• The infamous celebrity photographer used cans, straws and cardboard to create idyllic scenes of refineries and romanticized versions of gas stations.
• Each item used in the refinery series is actually a product created using the energy a refinery produces.

Dive Insight:

The project conveys the artist's thoughts about how energy dependence impacts all facets of life. It is interesting to note that LaChapelle, whose work frequently features celebrities shot in over-the-top, highly stylized  scenes, is expanding his repertoire to showcase consumer culture and the waste generated from this mindset. His latest cartoonish photos of trash illustrate the same tongue-in-cheek approach he uses for his other work, by using materials produced at the facilities as a visual commentary about consumer waste.