At the crossroads of Design and Material Science, this research-creation project brings together scientists and artists to develop reactive membranes and objects using Graphene Oxide.
Graphene Oxide is a layered carbon-based nanomaterial derived from the oxidation and exfoliation of graphite, which can also be synthesized from thermal treatment of organic waste. Spanning multiple spatial, technical, artistic, and philosophical dimensions, the project addresses crucial questions at the core of current research in materials science and design: up to which point can materials mimic nature and become ‘alive’, changing themselves based on external stimuli? What happens when materials and humans interact? Can the interaction between materials and the environment help improve our own environment?
Envisioned as a new generation of active materials for technological applications, the built environment and the arts, the structures developed in this project also aim to develop novel methods for arts and science collaboration and engage publics in a broader reflection on material futures and human's shifting relationship with its environment in a context of ecological crisis. This co-creation process involves the making of a documentary film, artistic and scientific prototypes, and an exhibition.
This project is funded by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec (Audace). The research team consists of Marta Cerutti, Alice Jarry, Yiwen Chen, Jacqueline Beaumont, Philippe Vandal, and Nima Zakeri. Images by Jacqueline Beaumont, Nima Zakeri, and Alice Jarry.