Veiled Lady 2014
Eric Klarenbeek & Maartje Dros NL & NL
mycelium, organic waste
purchase from the designers, 2016
For Veiled Lady, Erik Klarenbeek and Maartje Dros use a network of hyphal threads (mycelia) as a natural glue to bind local raw and waste materials. No non-decomposable synthetics are involved. The fungi keep growing in a 3D print of the local organic materials, until a solid but light structure emerges. Then the object dries out, whereby the fungi stop growing. This project is an innovative sample of biotechnology and eco-design. It even has a negative ecological footprint, since the vegetal material absorbes CO2 during the growth process and, after they have been used, the objects can be composted. In addition, Klarenbeek and Dros are aiming for a local production method: in the future, as soon as 3D printers have become more common, everyone will be able to print an object in their own area with local raw materials and thereby get round the polluting transport chain.
SOURCES
Met dank aan Eric Klarenbeek en Maartje Dros.