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• An outdated robot composed of e-waste, which is the future of new AI robot.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.

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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.