Mediamatic.net
Art, nature, biology and food in Amsterdam. You're welcome to join.
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Design your own Shroud
with Susanne Duijvestein
Ever thought about what you will wear when you're dead? In the past it was customary in the Netherlands to make your own death shroud and keep it in your linen closet because you never know. Although this tradition has passed, the shroud has reappeared in our 21st century as a more sustainable…
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What you will do First, Susanne Duijvestein will introduce you to the tradition of the burial shroud, including its meaning and practicalities in Dutch culture. Then you will start to create your own shroud from a natural fabric and treat it with organic materials. The idea is that you make a start with your shroud, and bring it back home to continue working on it. Susanne Duijvestein As an independent funeral director with a love of nature and a keen eye for aesthetics and ethics, Susanne is… By: Filippo Iannone
With: Susanne Duijvestein -
The real story behind Natural Perfumery
Natural vs Synthetic. Is it really Eco?
"Natural is always better" a sentence we often hear, but is it really? Well, in perfumery, it is not as simple, and there is a twist to what is commonly known and followed. Chemistry came to add innovation, diversity and sustainability to fragrance raw materials. Using synthetic and chemically…
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For a perfumer's palette to be rich, unique, and creative, synthetic raw materials are a must! "Synthetics" does not indicate toxic and bad; on the contrary, it is how the material is made and how it impacts our environment. Chemicals are all around us, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the complexity that makes our beloved nature. Accurately, natural essential oils are composed of several chemical molecules that can be extracted naturally or created in the laboratory following a…
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Open Call: Is it Actually eco?
Exploring and celebrating this uneasy question
Do you sometimes feel uneasy about the sustainability promises, implicit or explicit, that your work makes?
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As the climate crisis becomes more apparent, not only researchers and engineers but also designers and artists try to come up with ways to navigate us to a more sustainable way of living. But if we take a close look at sustainability-inspired projects or products, it often leaves us with an uneasy feeling. Is it actually eco? (and if not: is that okay?) Although it's easy to talk about successes, it's a lot harder to talk about the critical notes that might surround (good) ideas. But why is…
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The Rat With Wings: A History
The pigeon has sunk deep - in the eyes of humans, at least. If the bird once stood for peace, knowledge and devotion, now it is mostly thought of in terms of fear and disgust. The animal itself doesn’t have anything to say about this new identity; as the intertwined history of pigeons and humans…
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In 1901, the catholic magazine De Engelbewaarder published an article about the pigeon. The young readers were encouraged to try and take care of ‘these kind creatures’: ‘It is worth the effort to try and keep pigeons close. They are not shy, soft-tempered, very clean, beautiful in shape and colour. They do not fight with each other. Of her young, she takes care in the most loving way. For these reasons, they are held as symbols of innocence and tenderness.’ Another edition supplemented this…
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We are Growing Edible Flowers
15 meters from farm to plate
Mediamatic ETEN and the Aquaponics Farm together are aiding the growth of a project that started "rooting" its way into Mediamatic's collection a couple of years ago; and now with the arrival of this year's spring this project is in full bloom! If it isn't already obvious we are cultivating an…
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In the Aquaponics greenhouse we are currently exploring the cultivation of edible flowers. Edible flowers are not just decorative but can contribute unique flavours and textures to a dish/drink. For example Rosemary and Garlic flowers are extremely small and delicate, but pack a punch in terms of flavour; making them a much more attractive substitute for the leaves and cloves. Most edible flowers also feature medicinal properties. Calendula is used to prepare balms and ointments to treat… By: Elizabeth Vasilyeva
With: Jans Possel -
From Packaging to Beaver Skin
How to build a mycelium pigeon tower roof #1
The pigeon and the mycelium are in joint agreement. Pigeons don’t nest on soggy surfaces and mycelium prefers high humidity, but don’t like the wet. It is critical: The tower needs a roof. But what is the right material?
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Material philosophy The straw and mycelium blocks, that we use to build the tower, are fragile standing alone, which makes it difficult to construct a roof. The first attempt was made of willow and tarp. Josef has also been working on a roof from plywood. The last was quite heavy and maybe too perfect. Not the right fit for the living tower. So the search continues. In line with the philosophy of the tower, the preferable material would be “green” or “set-aside”. And with “set-aside” I mean… By: Mily Bogaarts
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