Material Acts
_The Algae Lab
Material Acts, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles
September 28, 2024 — January 5, 2025
​
The Algae Lab explores the intersection of art, science, and sustainability through innovative material experimentation. The work integrates metabolically active microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) into clay and ceramic substrates, creating living, dynamic materials.
The algae culture is cultivated and centrifuged into dense slurries. These are mixed with gelling agents to form hydrogels, which are then applied to 3D-printed clay vessels filled with nutrient-enriched water. Through daily care, including humidifier misting and exposure to growth lights, these vessels become living building blocks capable of photosynthesis. This process not only integrates metabolic activity into otherwise inert structures but also holds the potential for CO2 sequestration, presenting sustainable solutions for architectural and material design.
