Apr 17, 2024
Art and sustainability: the new installation by One Ocean Foundation for Milano Design Week 2024
The impact of art in addressing contemporary environmental issues
During Milano Design Week 2024, One Ocean Foundation proudly presents "Neptune’s Abyss," an immersive exhibition that transcends conventional artistic boundaries to explore the deep interconnection between human beings and the ocean.
Commissioned by One Ocean Foundation and curated by Elizabeth Zhivkova, Neptune’s Abyss demonstrates the profound impact of art in addressing contemporary environmental issues. With sustainability at its core, the installation showcases a meticulous selection of materials, each chosen for its environmentally friendly attributes and deep respect for the natural world. The material research has been conducted putting the ocean at the forefront.
“The ocean is a source of inspiration to address today’s environmental challenges. Through research and collaborations with visionary artisans, we highlight the ocean's transformative potential with innovative materials and traditional practices that respect the environment since centuries. This exhibition is a tribute to the beauty and vitality of the ocean, inviting us to protect and preserve it for future generations”, says Jan Pachner, Secretary General at One Ocean Foundation
Materials, as well as suppliers, have sustainability and respect for nature as common nominators. The selection process identified traditional, centuries old practices from times when chemical industrial processes did not even exist yet, as well as innovative materials such as living and breathing biomaterials, seeded with micro algae that consume carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through photosynthesis, alongside biodegradable paper crafted from algae used for our installation‘s construction and printed materials.
“The installation blends traditional craftsmanship with regenerative methods, collaborative approaches, and non traditional methods of printing and exhibiting fine art photography, unlocking the intuitive creative flow and exposing the perfectly imperfect nature of all beings and the fragility of our very existence, highlighting new waves in the blue environmental revolution and marine conservation”, addresses Elizabeth Zhivkova, installation curator.
Alga Carta is the paper created from algae that, by its abnormal proliferation, was damaging the fragile ecosystem of the Venice Lagoon. Even today, the same method is used for the creative reuse (upcycling) of overabundant algae from marine environments in other parts of the world. Alga Carta is recyclable, biodegradable, FSC certified and made using EKOenergy, renewable self-produced energy (hydroelectric). Furthermore, the unavoidable residual emissions have been zeroed.
For the past 220 years (a “geological nanosecond”) of active economic and industrial development, we have increased the atmospheric carbon from ~300 ppm to 421 ppm CO2. Currently, no one can capture CO2 in ambient conditions without prior CO2 concentration (energy loss) and further polluting the planet. The only known way is through photosynthesis and Pneuma is developing living materials that can photosynthesize. The materials (fibers, sheets, paint) contain living algae cells that grow and store atmospheric carbon inside the materials in the form of biomass. Pneuma aims to cover as much surface area as possible with its photosynthesizing materials named OXYA. Living Biomaterials and biological carbon capture are the AI of Climate tech. In the next 20 years, the decarbonization of the Planet will depend on them.
Photography printed on a delicate rare fine art AWAGAMI washi papers, crafted by the Fujimori family at a Tokushima mill on Shikoku island in Japan, with the artistry and knowledge gained over 8 generations of family paper making. These papers are extremely thin, made with natural fibers to yield sheets with an expressive surface and impressive character. Awagami papers are acid-free, made with respect and care for the environment. Since antiquity, Japanese washi has been made from renewable plant resources that reach maturity in 1-2 years. When compared to wood-based papers (that take dozens of years to mature and require many chemicals), washi is created with significantly less harm to our environment in a clean and eco-friendly manner. In the traditional spirit of Japan, Awagami maintains a caring and nurturing focus on the environment using these renewable plants and recycling all water used during production. This installation showcases probably one of the first times ever the delicate AWAGAMI washi papers in an outdoor environment.
Provides eco-friendly tissue paper customised packaging alternatives to single-use plastic packaging. We used their lightweight tissue paper SatinWrap to demonstrate alternatives for high end nature friendly packaging materials in the installation providing a more structural flow using it’s intense colors and SeaStretch for the construction back.
Neptune’s Abyss will make its absolute debut at Chiostro del Museo Diocesano from April 16th to 21st, 2024, and it will be hosted within Vanity Fair's Garden of Ideas. The installation will also feature an immersive solo cello live show by Yu Lin Humm (performance dates: April 16-20-21 at 7 pm).
