Iza Awad and Raoul Frese were awarded with 50.000 euros to further investigate this idea for one year.
An art science approach to bacteria cellulose and plant based living fabrics for sustainable fashion, hydroponics and circular economy.
Artists and scientists join forces to create a biomaterial from water, algae, bacteria, yeast and plants that contains the resources for the four most basic human needs: food, drink, energy and clothing. Maybe we people will be wearing their living, breathing and photosynthesizing clothes soon.
Artist
My name is Iza Awad, a 24 year old Queer man who is an enthusiast for artistic and scientific research beyond the extraordinary. In 2021 I graduated (cum laude) from the Chemistry master at the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. A great part of my master trajectory I focused on the interaction of photosynthetic plants and algae with a novel cellulose material made from bacteria (bacterial cellulose). Together with my professor/director of the VU Artscience lab, dr. Raoul Frese and researcher dr. Sandrine D’Haene we were awarded multiple grants from the NWO and the University of Amsterdam to develop several new living materials. Summer 2019 we showed the first clothing pieces consisting of a living fabric made of plants and cellulose. Later this year, we will showcase our most recent research called ‘Photosynthetic Human’.
Project News & Events
Raoul Frese: Photosynthetic Human
In this audio fragment Raoul Frese explains the labs collaboration with Iza Awad.
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ACROSS THE MUSEUM AFTER SIX
Stedelijk Museum hosts special event featuring Hito Steyerl’s exhibition and diverse performances.
Read More ACROSS THE MUSEUM AFTER SIX
PREMIERE SHORT FILM PHOTOSYNTHETIC HUMAN
Short film “Photosynthetic Human” premieres at Short Movie Sunday, exploring science-art intersectionality.
Read More PREMIERE SHORT FILM PHOTOSYNTHETIC HUMAN
Artscience Lab Hybrid Forms 