How to investigate the topic 'e-waste' for my artwork?

To begin with, I started extensive research about e-waste and artistic practices related to this subject.

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I posted on a local facebook group that I' m looking for e-waste.

Luckily, someone who lives in the city center contacted me that he wants to give away his e-waste. So I got two full boxes of e-waste from him.

preparation:
a bike for transport, several big and sturdy bags, and rope

I got lots of random e-waste from wires and computer parts to broken smartphones and digital cameras.

In the meantime, my colleagues also brought me e-waste whenever they found it somewhere.

From time to time, I could pick up several e-waste such as broken computer parts in the trash can or random places around my college.

A colleague of mine gave me a bunch of old floppy disks she found at her parents' house.

• computer keyboard
• motherboard
• hard disk
• ram
• computer fan
• smartphone
• wire
• dvd/cd rom
• boiler component
• ethernet adapter
• floppy disk (133mm)
• floppy disk (90mm)
• air conditional component
• computer mouse
• remote controller
• scanner
• dc/ac adapter
• converter
• charger
• cable
• speaker
• earphones
• motor
• digital camera
• navigator
• screen
• unknown circuit board
and so on

• Most parts are broken and dead.
• Some stuff can still work (completely or unstably) - e.g., power adapter, wires, computer fans
• Lots of dust on them.
• Broken parts are very sharp.
• Components assembled and glued with chemicals, so without covers, I can feel its toxicity by smell and touch.
• So many small components are glued and soldered on each circuit board.
• Composed of lots of metals.
• Also with plastics (its container and covers)
• Several recognizable components on the circuit board:
  LED, resistor, capacitor, chip, battery, camera lens, motor, button, switch, diode, socket for cables, etc.

I started to tinker with the materials (e-waste).

Idea : Short lifespan of electronics
- newly born and thrown away

• The AI and new robot, new digital devices come out on markets continually; however, as much of old electronics are abandoned as a result.
• An outdated robot composed of e-waste, which is the future of new AI robot.

An installation composed of electronic waste came out as a result. It was exhibited at Orbit Fest, in December 2017.

An installation composed with electronic wastes.
It looks like an outdated, abandoned and useless robot, once had been considered as our future.
Meanwhile, it can be the future of newly-born robot which will be discarded soon after.