Second Spin
In Disc.cussion, artists reimagine discarded CDs through printmaking.
Words Art+ Magazine Team
Photos courtesy of West Gallery
June 05, 2026
Disc.cussion brings together a diverse group of artists who explore alternative approaches to printmaking through the use of discarded compact discs as drypoint matrices. By transforming a once-ubiquitous medium of digital storage into a surface for tactile image-making, the exhibition reflects on material reuse, technological obsolescence, and the evolving relationship between digital and physical forms.
Working within the fixed circular format of the CD, participating artists engage with both conceptual and technical constraints. The central void—once essential to the disc’s function—becomes a defining compositional challenge. As artist Noell El Farol observes, “the void at the center becomes an integral part of the composition… one cannot make a focal point due to its absence at the center.” This condition often encourages radial structures and dynamic visual arrangements, requiring artists to negotiate balance against the object’s inherent sense of motion.
The material qualities of the CD further shape the resulting works. Its polycarbonate surface differs significantly from traditional copper or zinc plates, influencing both the character of the incised line and the way ink is retained and transferred. El Farol notes that “the process of incising physical marks on CD creates a dialogue between the ephemeral data and the tactile permanence created by drypoint,” adding that the resulting burrs “blur the microscopic series of circular lines that transform the CD into a digital relic.”
Beyond formal and material concerns, Disc.cussion foregrounds questions of sustainability and accessibility within contemporary print practice. By repurposing discarded media, the exhibition proposes a circular approach to artmaking that reimagines waste as creative potential. For artist Poeleen Alvarez, “the use of the CD… is a conscious decision towards sustainable artmaking in the face of a milieu characterized by overconsumption and manmade environmental crises.”
Through these works, the compact disc is repositioned not as obsolete technology, but as a material that retains cultural and artistic relevance. What once functioned as a carrier of digital information is reactivated as a matrix for image production, bridging the gap between data and imprint, ephemerality and permanence, memory and materiality.
Featured artists include Alynnah Macla-Tadeo, Benjie Torrado Cabrera, Diana Aviado, Plet Bolipata, Don Kusuanco, Elmer Borlongan, Jojo Barja, Luigi Azura, Angelo Magno, Mars Bugaoan, Noell El Farol, Pandy Aviado, Poeleen Alvarez, Soler Santos, Taj Hassan Asinas Tadeo, Anton Villaruel, and William Matawaran.
Disc.cussion presents a compelling investigation into the creative possibilities of overlooked materials and the transformative potential of printmaking. The exhibition runs from June 18 to July 18, 2026, at West Gallery, 48 West Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines.
