Downtown Johannesburg has become a place where hipsters from the northern suburbs snap glamorous moments through their lenses, yet they often don't see the people who live on the streets.
Artist Zwelethu Machaphe spent eight months capturing the lives of people who recycle plastic in the city. They cover their faces against the smog and push trolleys, and drivers often get annoyed without considering what these people contribute to the environment.
Everyday Robot is a series of watercolour paintings created by Machaphe to give the recyclers dignity and offer the viewers a glimpse of street lifestyle. He says the series is derived from a show he presented titled Degrees of Separation. The drawings were done on mounting board using watercolours, charcoal and fade-proof fine liner.
''My work focuses on aspects of social issues. It's a visual vocabulary that aims to bring about social change," he says.
The Soweto-born artist says he realised the importance of people who recycle rubbish after attending a workshop on cleanliness and creating a litter-free environment.
''As an active citizen my interest was piqued by the recyclers," he says.
"I started following them around and watching them separate their waste for scrapyards."
The young artist says it was only then that he understood their contribution to society.
They are mainly immigrants from Lesotho who make an average of R1000 a month. They send money back home to their families.
- Contact Machaphe at Artists Proof Studio, 011-492-1278
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
