One Last Kick at the Can

One Last Kick At The Can focuses on discarded paint cans that had piled up in Mirus's shared commercial studio. In one year of shooting advertising and fashion projects, it is not uncommon for a studio to accumulate hundreds of half-used cans, which ultimately make their way to a hazardous waste depot or landfill. By stripping off the label and removing the lid, Mirus uses the reflective surface of the can as a canvas on which he projects bold swaths of color. The result is a collection of colourful images that blur the line between photography and painting all while seeming to elevate the humble paint can to the status of a luxury good. As viewers, Mirus’ work prompts us to question the impact of our consumer cycle and at the same time appreciate the beauty in the mundane and banal objects that we generally discard when our use for them has passed.