Algaemy

DESIGN: Studio Blond & Bieber (Essi Johanna Glomb & Rasa Weber)

Germany

make me! 2014

1st place make me! Paradyż Award and a cash prize of PLN 20.000

The huge potential of microalgae has been a subject of research in natural science for quite some time. Meanwhile the artistic and creative value of this resource is mostly undiscovered land. „Algaemy”  investigates the potential of microalgae in a creative context. Blond & Bieber (Essi Johanna Glomb & Rasa Weber) reveal the aesthetic potential of a resource which is mostly regarded as weeds within europe. „Algaemy”  is an analogue textile-printer which produces its own (surprisingly fastgrowing) pigment. The „biodynamic color palette“ of „Algaemy”  Textiles changes over time when exposed to sunlight, for example from green to an intense blue, from a pale pink to a bright red and eventually orange. Every piece of textile is telling a story over time. Microalgae have an incredibly wide range of applications, such as nutrition, energy- and oil production, filtering qualities and even CO2 absorption. The machine uses this potential to create an autarkic circle of production, which does not require additional energy or material apart from human power and the microalgae itself. „Algaemy”  is investigating the potential of microalgae as pigment in textile printing.