Air pollution

Smogware

Every day, we inhale air pollution in our cities. This pollution contains nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, of which we are the producers.

Architect Iris de Kievith and designer Annemarie Piscaer found a way to harvest fine particulate matter and use it as a glaze for ceramics. With the colour that the particulate matter gives, the poor air quality is made visible and tangible. Because the use of tableware, your breakfast plate and your coffee cup, the intimacy of their use, relates to breathing. It was chosen as a medium for raising awareness of air pollution. Part of the project is 'participative urban mining'; you can participate in the harvesting of the dust. This is certainly possible in cities where air quality must be brought to the attention, home and abroad.

Making process

The powder which is composed air pollution matter is used for the glaze, only a transparent glaze is used as a medium, and there are no additives, or colours used. The different materials in the fine dust, like sand, and iron particles determine the colour. These materials are commonly used by ceramists.

Text submitted by the maker and edited by the Future Materials Bank. For information about reproducing (a part of) this text, please contact the maker.