Mount Rushmore-style trash sculpture of G-7 leaders erected ahead of summit

A secondhand electronics store has commissioned an enormous Mount Rushmore-style sculpture of the Group of Seven (G-7) leaders made of discarded electronics to be erected across from the hotel where the high-level meeting is set to take place.

British electronics retailer musicMagpie commissioned British sculptor Joe Rush to create the striking artwork to bring attention to how electronics need to be more easily recyclable and reusable, the BBC reports.

“E-waste poses a huge threat to the environment — and developed nations are among the worst offenders for producing it. Introducing… Mount Recyclemore!” musicMagpie wrote on Twitter.

E-waste poses a huge threat to the environment – and developed nations are among the worst offenders for producing it. Introducing… Mount Recyclemore! #MountRecyclemore pic.twitter.com/NjwcxzxjBn

— musicMagpie (@musicMagpie) June 8, 2021

The sculpture depicts President Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

It sits on the beach across from the Carbis Bay Hotel, where the G-7 summit is taking place in Cornwall, purposefully situated to hopefully be visible “when they fly over,” Rush explained.

“It needs to be repairable or made to last longer because the stuff is going into landfill,” Rush told the BBC.

“We have this looking at them and hopefully we’re going to prick their conscience and make them realise they’re all together in this waste business,” Rush added. “The key message is ‘talk to each other’ and let’s sort this mess out.”

Huge thanks to @Konnie_Huq for helping us spread the word about #MountRecyclemore, the important issue of e-waste & our work with @WasteAid (we’re donating £1 for every tech item recycled with us throughout June) today!♻️ Find out more here: https://t.co/l1QBqEbeS2 pic.twitter.com/4viLdVkyhr

— musicMagpie (@musicMagpie) June 10, 2021

Rush is the founder of the underground Mutoid Waste Company art collective and is well-known for his otherworldly art pieces that often incorporate metal scraps and trash. He has been involved in the Glastonbury Music Festival for many years.

The G-7 meeting is set take place on Friday and marks Biden’s first overseas trip as president. This will also be the first in-person G-7 meeting to take place since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Climate change and COVID-19 are expected to the main issues that they will discuss.

The world leaders will likely discuss a global vaccination program as a growing number of international figures call on the G-7 to fund vaccinations around the world.