Material Investigations II

In October 2022, I had made various thin sheets of algae-based bioplastic (ABP) which I made marks in using ink and ABP infused mixed with graphite powder. I experimented with sewing strips of it onto canvas. The ABP is quite fragile and I found the presser foot of the sewing machine tore it apart. I was able to resolve this problem by placing a layer of tissue paper between the presser foot and the ABP and then after sewing, the tissue paper was torn away. I had seen a fashion student in my cohort at Toi Ohomai use this technique when sewing a pattern into her fabric. This technique worked successfully and is something I am keen to further apply to future works. It is like a sewn collage and could perhaps be a development following on from the decollage works that I do.

Possibilities:

• What if I made large works of algae-based bioplastic sewn onto canvas (or the likes)?

• What if I made textiles using this method?

In January 2023 I made a textile work. Pepe Para Riki, (shown below)using this method. The work was sent to be part of an exhibition in Tauranga's sister city of Hitachi, Japan which takes place in March 2023. Creative Bay of Plenty coordinated the works of 5 local artists to be sent over for the exhibition in Japan.

Pepe Para Riki (2023)
This textile is inspired by the Pepe Para Riki, the North Island Coastal Copper, a butterfly endemic to New Zealand. The bioplastic, an ephemeral medium, reflects the short lifespan of the small butterfly which resides on sand dunes and rocky coasts. The dense ruffles echo the many wings of the imago, the fully developed adult butterfly, whose population is at its highest in January, the month this work was created.

Agar bioplastic patterned with ink and graphite powder drawing, sewn onto canvas, size approx 210mm x 300mm