Metamorphism

12 February 2020

Why this project?
The existence of unprocessed, natural materials used in traditional crafts is threatened by various developments such as climate change, deforestation and the continuous spread of pollutants such as plastic. With the disappearance of the materials, the knowledge of those crafts also disappears. New natural materials are being created at the same time. With her Metamorphism project, Shahar Livne asks the question of what is man made and what naturally came about, and how these two sides influence each other. She is also investigating the way in which we as human beings can look at plastic in addition to the idea of plastic as a polluting material.

What does the project entail?
Shahar paints a picture of the near future. In the future, petroleum-based plastic can only be extracted from nature. The result of her research is a new clay-like material, made from discarded plastic and sediment from waste streams - partly organic and partly artificial. She imagines that future generations view this new speculative material, "Lithoplast," as a valuable resource that they mine. With heat and pressure, Shahar imitated the natural geological processes that we call metamorphism - the same process that converts limestone into marble. Shahar uses the resulting material as a medium to turn it into objects. “This is how I show what you can do with the material. For every object there must be a reason that has to do with the larger story - that can also be philosophical. For example, I made a clock that is about the idea of time and change. And a bench that has to do with a Japanese Zen practice of reflecting on the changes of nature.”

The goal is to provoke a discussion about what kind of future people want and don't want. I show something that does not yet exist, in order to better understand the present

Shahar calls herself a conceptual material designer. “I work with material in a conceptual way. I am not only concerned with the material itself, but I use it to tell a bigger story. At some moments it also borders on art.” The intention of Metamorphism is to make people think. “My view as a designer is neutral. I sketch a certain image of the future, and I hope that people start thinking about it and form an opinion about it. At the same time, I am investigating how this new material can be used as a basis for new designs."

For the development of Lithoplast, Shahar delved into the world of geology. She did scientific research and collaborated with a geologist who included a new type of naturally occurring plastic rock in Museon in the Hague. She also interviewed Patricia Corcoran, a Canadian researcher who was the first to investigate naturally forming plastic rocks and naming them 'Plastiglomerates'.

What is the contribution from and to the Creative Industry?
Using the Speculative/Critical Design method, Shahar imagines a possible future. She used the method coined by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby. “This method can have two movements, one that is about an alternative reality, and one that is about a possible reality. I worked with the second one. The method does not consist of a step-by-step plan but is more a way of approaching a topic. The goal is to provoke a discussion about what kind of future people want and don't want. I show something that does not yet exist, in order to better understand the present.”

“I have developed my own way of working, in which I work in layers. In this case I looked at plastic in many different ways, almost investigating the subject as a sort of detective. From a scientific point of view I investigated the correct processing and the development of Lithoplast. From a cultural point of view, I thought about how people relate to this new material. I also approached the subject from an environmental and philosophical point of view, among other things.”

What now?
In the coming period Shahar wants to further investigate the new material and see if she can make it into larger objects, in order to better demonstrate the usefulness of the material.