Material Variance
September 19, 2023
Conference at Columbia GSAPP organized by Lola Ben-Alon Assistant Professor at Columbia GSAPP with the Natural Materials Lab
Natural materials are highly variable. How does this inherent variability influence the magic of alchemical reactions, the properties of binding agents and mix designs, supply chains, labor practices, trade routes, and the preconceptions of standards and codes? What are the transformative, political (and often, messy) processes evoked by using materials that are non-engineered and raw?
The Material Variance symposium connects material design researchers, building scientists, and artists to discuss the reciprocal impacts of species and form, and the defiance against refinement, exploitation, and technocratic establishments.
Sasha Fishman presented her materials research on explorations with chitosan, working with hagfish, cicadas, and salmon during the Materials Kitchen component of the conference
Columbia GSAPP Material Variance
Photos by Carol Yuan
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