Project description
We consider materials as living matter (with nature as co-creator) that transform and change their shape over time, and eventually turn into an input for renewal and compose new natural matter.
The large-scale artwork combines various crafting knowledge and materials with a wide range of aesthetic, mechanical, and physical characteristics as well as environmental responsiveness. The sculpture functions as a composition of knowledge (human and non-human) that leads us forward and backward at the same time. The project is an attempt to challenge some of the assumptions underlying the contemporary production of our habitations from a material and social/cultural perspective and to rethink the construction industry in the belief that there are better alternatives.
Compos[t]ing, which will investigate new ways of thinking by using knowledge that is already existing, but that can be put into a new context. This proposal involves an exploration of building materials, with an emphasis on local, indigenous, and undervalued knowledge, and re-usability and adjustability as elements of adapting to our changing conditions.
Compos[t]ing website (Ingrid Mayrhofer-Hufnagl)
Earthbreakers website (Ingrid Ogenstedt)
The sculpture Earthbreakers can be found at the Parc du Cinquantennaire as part of the NaturArchy exhibition, taking place at iMAL Art Center for Digital Cultures & Technology, 24/5 – 29/9/24. With the support of: Agnes Brandstaetter, Charlotte Burgaud, Manoah Camporini, Amandine Faugère, Roya Keshavarz, Sioban Lopez Dailland, Stefan Piat, Bjørg Dyg Nielsen.
This artwork has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Urban, Brussels Environment, Brucity, BC Materials, C-Mile and Paul Dujardin (strategic and artistic advisor JRC SciArt project).
Ingrid Ogenstedt is a Swedish born artist who works both with large sculptural projects and drawing. Ingrid Mayrhofer-Hufnagl is an intradisciplinary artist, architect, and researcher from Austria. Jonah Lynch is a researcher in the fields of digital humanities, physics, philosophy and theology. ERC researcher Jamie Gomez-Ramirez is also collaborating on the scientific side of the project. The group first met and connected at the SciArt Summer School on the topic of NaturArchy which took place in June 2022 at the JRC.