Slow.Blue.Hairy
2022, Residency hosted by The Institute for Public ArchitectureThis project proposes to transform discarded fishing nets, reclaimed from marine debris and landfill, into a new ‘hairy’ textile that can be used as the skin of a structure or urban furniture, among other potential applications. In 2019 it was reported by the Guardian Newspaper that over 640, 000 tons of fishing gear get dumped into the ocean every year. Despite earnest recycling and reclamation projects, collection and reuse of nylon and poly fishing nets remains a significant task. In this project, nets are collected, cut, partially unwoven and rewoven to create a new tactile and inviting textile. This transformative process neutralizes the capacity of the nets to ensnare wildlife, as well as compacting the scale of the net and making it more manageable. The weaving technique is simple enough to get communities, such as children and the elderly, involved with the production of the fabric, while the panelised design allows for easy aggregation of the pieces. This first research and development period proposes the textile to be used in tensile, outdoor structures such as group hammocks and sensory curtains winding through the trees. The project encourages community engagement and interactions, and sits at the intersection of art, architecture and environmental activism.
