CAROLINA PACHECO
BIO INSPIRED DESIGN &. MATERIALS
Cluster Crafts chats with Carolina Pacheco, one of Chilies foremost designers in the emerging field of Biomaterials to find out what all the fuss is about.
A biomaterial (BM) is a compound that can be produced either naturally or synthesised in a laboratory. Ocean sediment, coffee or food waste, and discarded seashells are just some of the ingredients being used to produce BMs.
They are now being applied to arts & crafts, fashion, architecture and construction. This vanguard industry is driven by a growing interest from makers who are concerned with the environmental impact of the materials they use.
With over three years academic and practical experience in this discipline Carolina Pacheco discusses the future of BMs, exploring their potential application, and offering a cautionary warning over the way in which this resource could be managed.
Sea Shells Waste in a Mussel Farm - Granja Marina Chauquear, Calbuco, Chile - January 2019
Calcáreo Recipe
Hello Carolina, We’ve got to ask: why biomaterials (BMs)?
Well, what first excited me was seeing how other designers were taking organisms such as mycelium from fungi, bacteria or silkworms and using them in material fabrication for crafts & design.
Could we understand the natural processes of biological matter and apply these in new ways?
I was realising how my design practices could be informed by nature and design as nature does. This also meant less reliance upon human-made materials.
Since then I’ve been involved in several research projects and I’m campaigning for increased access to BMs for makers, creatives or anyone who is curious.
Detail of Calcáreo recipe for moulds
Waste and BM innovation has been a hot issue in recent times. Do you think there is a growing interest in BMs?
Worldwide development of BMs has increased continuously in recent years. Happily for me there are more and more people interested here in Latin America. There’s a growing appetite from individual creatives to promote design practices that are human and ecologically friendly. I strongly believe an increase in the use of waste or BMs goes hand in hand with universal access and collaboration. Each step of innovation should teach us more about the material’s origins and fabrication processes. Helping to shape the cultural perceptions we have towards matter and better understand the story behind every object.
Moldable Perspective
What are the potential applications for BMs in terms of arts & crafts?
As a designer I’m interested in looking for ways to incorporate BMs in arts & crafts although they’re probably still not ready for use in the mainstream economy. This would require a change of mentality across the board; involving a more conscious approach towards mass-production, otherwise BMs may suffer the same unsustainable future as that of other natural resources.
With that said, I definitely see arts & crafts as a potential application for BMs, from the creation of the object to the narrative; particularly if there is universal access for designers to then create using energy efficient practises and tap into locally based resources.
I think they could also be applied in any field beyond crafts; the key is there must be respect for the organism and materials need to be universally available and patent-free. Recipes must be shared within the creative community.
Experiments
Calcáreo-Research Book
Your recipe combines mussel and alginate powder: this sounds unusual! How did you design your own BM?
My first approach to bio-design was through seaweed research. I worked with alginate polysaccharid which was extracted from brown seaweed to make bio-fibres. This previous experience helped when working with alginate and combining it with mussels for a bio-composite material.
This then turned into my graduation design thesis , culminating in a collaboration with two local laboratories: Labva and Biofab UC.
I wouldn’t say Calcáreo is my own BM because it is based on open source recipes from other designers and researchers from TU Delft and Labva.
Alginate Solution + Crushed & Sieved Mussel Shells
Exploration with Recipe
I heard that the process can be long and costly. Is this true?
If the entire growth cycle of mussels and seaweed is considered then the process is very long. I believe this should be taken into account to fully respect the value of any material that we adapt to our human needs.
Once the mussels are fully grown, their shells can be obtained both from mussel farms or food waste, then you just pulverise them to make a fine dust to work with. Comparatively, to obtain alginate from brown seaweed industrial processes are required and the end product is distributed by local companies; this makes polysaccharide expensive to produce. I’m now focusing on how to extract alginate through artisanal methods that are more affordable.
Are you guided more by artistic curiosity or ethical reasons?
I think I’m guided by many factors! I hope to contribute towards the BM field in order to decrease the environmental impact of working with toxic materials in art & design. I’d like to see more open access in this field so we can produce and distribute BMs locally. Also, I have an inbuilt scientific driven curiosity that really wants to understand BMs and their wider applications.
What are your tips for artists or creatives who would like to work in this field?
Let’s connect! One of the main things I love about this emerging practice is the collaborative atmosphere and openness. This includes connecting with people from other disciplines. Working with chemists, biologists, physicists, artisans and even farmers has made the process way richer in terms of development and understanding. I would also say read up and be as informed as possible. Consider what it means to work with BMs and get involved with a community of makers who also prioritise the environmental impact of their work.
Biomaterial Workshop - FabLab Santiago, May 2019
Huiro / Giant Kelp / Macrocystis integrifolia - January 2019, Puerto Williams, Chile
Do you have any artist recommendations for us?
Here’s some of my favourites in this field:
Neri Oxman and Nassia Inglessis for their experimental research and amazing outcomes, combining different disciplines.
For interesting creative projects check out Thomas Vailly, Nienke Hoogvliet, Karlijn Sibbel, Erez Nevi Pana, Jonas Edvard and Daniel Elkayam.
And in terms of materials research and design in Chile look up the work of Labva, Gt2p and Alma.
Thank you for reading,
Valeria, Daniel & Cluster Team.