Metallophytes: Echoes of Extraction, exhibited at Spaces for Tomorrow during Dutch Design Week 2024 at Sectie C, explores the hidden presence of heavy metals in Germany’s soils through stoneware ceramics, utilizing plant ash glazes derived from pollutants absorbed by metallophytes—plants uniquely tolerant to soil toxicity. Accompanied by a booklet, this project transforms environmental data into a poetic archive, shedding light on soil contamination and the plight of endangered metallophytes.
The ceramics serve as tangible witnesses to industrial legacies, particularly from mining and agriculture, fostering a dialogue on environmental impact and pollution levels. Through this project, the artist advocates for the conservation of metallophyte ecosystems, whose resilience mirrors the adaptive struggles shared across species. By documenting metallophyte habitats and raising awareness about these ecosystems, Metallophytes: Echoes of Extraction emphasizes the critical role of metallophytes in transforming toxic environments and challenges us to reconsider conventional approaches to soil contamination and land restoration.