Design prototyping has started in the studio, this particular material is not easy to work with and it has taken years for the 3d printing industry to explore ethical materials use especially in the recycled arena. The quality and cleanliness of the source material being the key to this process. PET plastic is a global blight on the environment especially within our rivers and oceans, it is particularly vulnerable to breakdown into dangerous particles when exposed to the sun with the waters agitation for a prolonged period.
Currently eight new designs are in development including my own designs and those of artists collaborating with the Distil Ennui Studio™, this piece seen here is in collaboration with Mana Fabric who you may remember as Sayan Film from the Dark Vat artist residency where they recorded a documentary for the project. Inside each there are several electrical & electronic options to select from. One is a custom made led candle flame that is incredibly realistic and works superbly with the fine translucent walls of this lamp shade. Another design option is a wireless unit with a rechargeable battery via USB C, it has full RGB colour led tech with the same as a cabled version 'mood' led lamp inside. Both of these can be controlled from a mobile to select any colour or mood that you could imagine each within specially designed low power consumption modules.
The lamps themselves are 3D printed in close collaboration with our filament manufacturer, the studio collects single use plastic waste from local schools & universities after being washed by the students themselves. That material is then up-cycled through our suppliers patented process, and we receive the 3d filament to work with in the studio, tests so far have been clean and stable.
I am not comfortable designing or making anything that does not have materials integrity at its core. This lighting range is no different with the materials influencing the design from the very beginning.
We are all becoming more aware that the natural limits to growth are being overstepped which leads me to a search for answers of different kinds, collecting data and learning processes intent on an increase in environmental awareness.
My work has always explored issues of overpopulation, pollution, disappearing small holding farmland, polluting rivers and underground water resources alike, the disappearing ice sheets and the ever more scarcity of energy sources and raw materials.
Throughout these explorations lies a common theme: that responsible, circular development and the close examination of data is indispensable to formulating a well-informed and accurate opinion for widespread distribution. Where little transparency raises fundamental issues related to corporate governance and accountability reporting.