Sea vegetable Circulation
SEA VEGETABLE COMPANY
Story
The objective of Seaweed Dialogues is to initiate a sensorial dialogue between human and seaweed,
posing the question of what seaweed is and can be. Through extensive material-driven explorations
of Icelandic seaweed, the goal is to push the boundaries and properties of locally foraged Icelandic
kelp such as Laminaria Hyperborea and Digitata. Exploring how these specific kelps can be turned
into translucent, flexible parchment-like material. A research initiated by experimenting with the
addition of naturally derived binders such as gelatine and Agar Agar, however, ending at employing
the naturally occurring polymers within the seaweed itself to adjust the specific qualities of the
material. The research also aims to push the material into the three-dimensional dimension and
apply the material its' own agency, through its textural and haptic properties. These haptic surfaces and shapes are generated through collaborating with Rhino and Grashopper, to create sensorial tactility that attract interaction. Aiming to generate sensorial interaction between human and seaweed, that informs alternative purposes and material prospects of brown kelp, putting the focus on its material value and possibilities. As well as emphasising the vitality of interdisciplinary collaboration between the ecosystem, science, technology and design.
Why Kelp?
Kelp is a type of algae, which is an important actor in our ecosystem "about 50 percent of the photosynthesis on Earth occurs in seaweeds and microscopic algae floating in the oceans”(Doumeizel & Giercksky, 2020). If algae is consciously utilised, it could be a collaborator toward a more mindful and sustainable future. I resided 9 months in Iceland, taking Fabricademym a course that focuses in the intersection of biology, technology in textile design. Iceland displays a very desolate landscape, with almost no forests, however, if the Icelandic coastlines are examined the area is filled with forests, the Kelp forests. This offers an abundant source of material that is washed up on the shore and left to decompose. Thus the idea is to utilise this “waste” to reconnect people with seaweed and its current and future uses. Seaweed Dialogues was displayed at Design March 2023 and a running up for the Distributed Design Award’s Responsible Design Price, where it created much dialogue and speculations of seaweeds role in our future materials and design.
