Central Saint Martins UAL
Graduates: 2024
Specialisms: Material Innovation / Sustainable Design
My location: London, United Kingdom
First Name: Parth
Last Name: Bondre
University / College: Central Saint Martins UAL
Course / Program: Material Futures MA
Graduates: 2024
Specialisms: Material Innovation / Sustainable Design
My Location: London, United Kingdom
Website: Click To See Website
BioMiners is a project about sustainable material extraction highlighting our impact on the environment. The project utilizes the unique capabilities of Hyperaccumulator plants to mine metal from toxic mine tailings and simultaneously detoxify land. The resulting coin, crafted from the metals extracted from these plants, holds more than just material value; it symbolizes the region’s past mining history and the current environmental reality, offering hope amidst adversity. However, this process is not swift. It requires approximately 2 years and 2000 plants to extract a mere 8 grams of metal, thus highlighting the significant impact of our consumption choices on both ecosystems and human well-being. The story is set in the Peak District area of Derbyshire, UK. The area has a rich history of lead mining with numerous heaps of toxic mine tailings around. But, Hyperaccumulators have adapted to grow on these heaps absorbing the metal as they grow. Through its symbology, the coin tells a story of how our past affects our present and how nature shows its resilience, offering us a way forward, a future where we are conscious of our impact and value things around us and materials more.