An investigation in biodegradable plastic and other materials.

In this project, I invite the audience to take part in my artistic investigation of bioplastic. As an artist, I wish to visualise my passion for biomaterials and awaken the curiosity of what we can do with it with a final presentation of an art piece made out of bioplastic.

Can seaweed that gets shipped away from our beaches and seen as trash actually be a very useful source of material? Can clay and oyster shells create a sturdy alternative to leather?

My process is about sourcing potential natural materials, drying them and pulverise them and and investigating how they react as I combine them with different natural solutions, ingredients and binders such as water, potato starch, glycerol and agar agar.
 
We are standing in front of a big change as humans. Big changes needs to happen in order for us to save our planet. Changes in everything from our daily behaviour to how big corporations take responsibility for the production chain. In order to implement these changes, we need education, but also curiosity. In order for us to start respecting and admiring our planet again, we need to reconnect. Instead of drowning in alarming news and reports and waking up feeling useless every morning, I believe this is a way to awaken hope and curiosity in us humans. To open our eyes to the materials we have around us and their properties. To live a little slower and start seeing nature for what it is; everything we need. This deep dive into new materials gives me hope for our future and a fascination for what nature already provides us with. I want to infuse this into others and awaken the idea of what other materials and combinations that are out there yet to be discovered, explored and found. Now is the time to look for new solutions, now is the time for us to create a better future. 

Images

Picture 1: the final art piece
Picture 2: pigment map
Picture 3: fresh seaweed
Picture 4: crushed seaweed pigment
Picture 5: crushed mussel shell
Picture 6: crushed oyster shell

Picture 7: Top left corner: clay leather, left down corner: bioplastic, top right corner: oyster shell ceramic, down right corner: eggshell ceramic
Picture 8: the final art piece

Picture 9: the final art piece in oak frame