Conversing with Matter

The ongoing industrial need for more clay is exhausting natural resources, and damaging the environment. This design research project explores extractive stories of clays, working with polluted river clay, and using the stigmatised material of asbestos as a filler in order to lessen the amount of mined clay needed. Once treated and fibre-free, asbestos is not dangerous, and also lends insulation and heat-resistant qualities to the clay.  The project’s dramatic findings are the result of a durational methodology that relied on the designer establishing conversations between materials and techniques, industry and craft, experts and institutions, scientific findings and cultural associations.