A group exhibition at Schering Stichtung Berlin (DE) curated by Daniel Rourke and Morehshin Allahyari for Transmediale, “Ever Elusive”, (2017).
// Morehshin Allahyari // Cathrine Disney // Keeley Haftner // Brittany Ransom // Daniel Rourke
// Morehshin Allahyari // Cathrine Disney // Keeley Haftner // Brittany Ransom // Daniel Rourke
Black Box
Terrarium, compostable plastic 3D prints, thermometer/hydrometer, microbes, soil, soil heating cable, sand // 50 × 50 × 50cm // 2017
STL file: Zotrax Voronoi Sphere by ZRAFT
Black Box is a sculpture by Keeley Haftner, created for On the Far Side of the Marchlands in conjunction the thirtieth anniversary of Transmediale. The work investigated the allegedly compostable properties of PLA (polylactic acid), then the most commonly used plastic for 3D printing.
Throughout the exhibition, 3D-printed PLA Voronoi spheres were gradually added to a Haacke-esque cube designed to recreate the supposedly ideal conditions for biodegradation: microorganisms, 50–60% moisture, and temperatures of 40–59°C. The spheres were monitored for changes as they underwent the process. Not the slightest bit of degradation was observed.
Four years later, Haftner’s results were confirmed by a peer-reviewed research paper published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.
Condensation Cube (1963-67) © Hans Haacke, VEGAP, BarcelonaPhotos: Julia Zimmermann © Schering Stiftung