Sustainable materials are becoming increasingly important in artistic creation and design, with the need to reduce environmental impact and think towards a more responsible future. Visual artist Esther Pizarro, of Madrid origin, has collaborated with Nestart on a project focused on eco-friendly materials.
According to Esther Pizarro, the future of sustainability lies in biomaterials such as bacterial cellulose, mycelium, and algae. These materials are not only biodegradable, but also highly resistant and durable. Research on these materials should be prioritized by artists and designers, as they can anticipate and contribute to the paradigm shift towards sustainability.
In order to integrate eco-friendly materials and create sustainable artworks, the entire creative process must be revolutionized. As suggested by Pizarro, it is necessary to incorporate a new sustainable material in the approach, as well as resorting to the upcycling process to transform existing matter.
Art and sustainability not only need to converse, but coexist as well. According to Andrea Cagnetti, a goldsmith and sculptor collaborating with Nestart, it is possible to choose sustainable paths without distorting one's own poetics, but on the contrary, by making it even more explicit and vital through the materials used. Politics, institutions, universities, businesses and sciences must move in unison to make this integration possible.
The sustainability of materials is no longer a choice, but a necessity. Artists and designers have the responsibility to anticipate and contribute to the paradigm shift towards a more enduring future. Research on biomaterials and the upcycling process can contribute to a revolution in materials, but a new creative process that takes this priority into account is also necessary.
