Process¶
Ideation¶
- The female body
- Zena Holloway
- The Giants Causeway
- Collar piece Designs made by ai
- Shoulder piece Designs made by ai
Inspirations¶
Molds¶
- 3D printed mold inspired by the Giants Causeway, Ireland
Cast in silicone¶
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- Laser cutting acrylic
Power 50 Speed 10
Positive & negative were used¶
- Spiral inspiration
- The bodice as the mold
The set up¶
Making wooden frames for my molds.
- Growing tent for humidity, good ventiliation.
- Lights from the top & the sides.
- If too hot, a fan for airflow.
Growing roots¶
Growth of the seed¶
The seed by Amber O'Kelly
The outcome of a Root mantle¶
The root mantle¶
Beyond roots: exploring the aerial layer¶
In addition to wheatgrass root systems, I experimented with chia and flax seeds to investigate their behaviour as surface-growing materials.
Unlike structural root mats, these seeds:
- Germinate rapidly with only water
- Adhere naturally to fabric due to their gel coating
- Grow directly on textiles without soil
- Create a living, aerial layer rather than a dense structural base
What this revealed
- Textiles can act as growth substrates, not just support structures
- Adhesion can occur biologically, without stitching or glue
This experiment shifts the focus from root-binding to plant-fabric symbiosis, where growth itself becomes the attachment mechanism.
Making a biomaterial out of grass¶
Grass, Starch paste, Flaxseed gel, Glycerinext by Amber O'Kelly
Making grass paper¶
Paper making with grass by Amber O'Kelly
Creating symbioses between walls¶
- Measuring the bio- electrons in wheatgrass roots, translating this into a vibration motor. For people then to touch the grounding mat (mat made of wheatgrass) and for people to "feel the ground" while inside walls.
Symbiosis by Amber O'Kelly
From field to fiber¶
Turning paper into a fabric
From field to fiber by Amber O'Kelly