Retro or rubbish — Life cycles of electronics

The new exhibition at the Radio and TV Museum Mastola examines turning points in electronic consumption habits. Over the past hundred years, home entertainment electronics have evolved from bulky tube televisions to pocket-sized touchscreens.

The exhibition showcases the changing work of radio and TV mechanics, a profession that has become increasingly scarce. Where a repairman was once called on-site, now a faulty item is quickly replaced with a new one. The number of professionals in the radio and TV service industry has decreased in line with advancements in electronics.

The exhibition also delves into the worrisome aspect of this development: electronic production volumes have skyrocketed while the lifecycles of devices have shortened to just a few years. Electrical and electronic waste has become the EU’s fastest-growing waste category, with only 40% ending up recycled.

Retro or rubbish – Lifecycles of electronics exhibition will be on display at Mastola for two years, equivalent to the current average lifespan of a mobile phone.