Material Investigations I

Algae-based bioplastic (ABP) is conductive and affects touch screens such as the indium-doped glass on ipads, iPhones, and the like. I noted this when researching the ABP in 2022 and came across the work of Tiare Ribeaux and her website Bioplastic Cookbook for Ritual Healing from Petrochemical Landscapes. In exploring this trait, I experimented with a plasma ball and a thin sheet of ABP in January 2023. The sheet of ABP I used was about 4 hours old and therefore had a high moisture content which makes it more conductive. I was curious to see the effects, and how the two elements interacted.

Possibilities

• What if I made a moving image with ABP and a plasma ball?

• What if I captured the effects photographically?

• What if I made an installation with algae-based bioplastic and a tesla coil?

Algae-based bioplastic and plasma ball - January 2023

Algae-based bioplastic and plasma ball - January 2023

Algae-based bioplastic in contact with a plasma ball