RESIDUE MATERIALS FROM THE GASTRONOMY
This project uses waste materials from the gastronomy to reduce the use of conventional resources in ceramic production.
Restaurants not only supply me with ceramic waste, but also kitchen scraps such as nut shells, carrot tops, potato peels, bones and much more, which I use for glazes.
In my project with the catering industry, I am discovering that materials that previously ended up in the trash can be used again for high-quality products. It is even possible to create products with exceptional aesthetics. The recycled tableware produced is given an individual color depending on the raw material. The glazes made from plant waste fascinate with their unique color images.
Tableware made from recycled ceramics with glazes made from fruit and vegetable scraps
Tableware made from recycled ceramics with glazes made from fruit and vegetable scraps. Photographs
MATERIAL RESEARCH CERAMICS
In the catering industry, a lot of dishes break. Through my recycling tests with porcelain , I found that fired dishes can be reused. Not only are restaurants a good source of shards, they also use various ceramic materials, be it industrial or handmade porcelain, stoneware or earthenware. This allows me to test a wide range of ceramic materials. I received the first shards from Rechberg 1837 and the Rank cultural venue in Zurich and from Biel from Éclsue and the Lokal . One part of the broken dishes was made of glazed stoneware, the other part was made of glazed porcelain. Despite the glaze, I was able to replace 50% of the porcelain mass with the recycled material. In collaboration with a local cement factory, I shred the ceramic waste. The resulting mass is suitable for serial slip casting, which creates dishes that are dense and stable and can be used again in the catering industry.
Crusher
Ground shards
Ceramics with recycled material
MATERIAL RESEARCH GLAZE 1
Ceramic glazes were often created by chance. Over 1000 years ago BCE, it was discovered that ash particles in wood fires left glassy deposits on ceramics. This ash glaze was further developed and became the basis for ash glazes.
In an ash glaze, ash particles combine with the ceramic at high temperatures and fuse to form a glassy coating. The minerals that plants extract from the soil as they grow influence the quality and color of the resulting glaze.
In my “Gastronomy” project, I use kitchen waste such as nut shells, carrot tops, potato peelings, and more for glazes. Inspired by ash glazes, I began burning kitchen waste in covered containers. The plant residues produce different colorations and glassy layers depending on the location and season. Not only does the base receive a glaze, but the lid can also develop a glassy coating or discoloration from the steam, solely due to the high temperatures and the plant's contents.
Although we now know a lot about the chemical composition of plants, glazes made from plant materials always remain a surprise. This ongoing project constantly evolves with the available raw materials.
Glaze tests from plant residues
Glaze carrot herb
Glaze potato peels
MATERIAL RESEARCH GLAZE 2
In my second attempt with glazes, I am working with ash glazes. In ash glazes, ash is deliberately used as a component of the glaze recipe and applied to the ceramic before firing.
I am investigating whether it is possible to create an ash glaze from the collected restaurant waste. I use old glass, earthenware waste, plant ash, or bone ash. Traditionally, ash glazes consist mainly of wood ash, clay, and quartz. Instead of wood ash, I use carrot top ash, replace clay with earthenware shards, and use old glass instead of quartz. Additionally, I added bone ash in some tests to examine its effects on the glaze.
Silicon dioxide in plant ash acts as a glass former, while other minerals serve as natural fluxes. The earthenware waste allows the glaze to be applied well and prevents it from flowing too much during firing. Silicon dioxide in the form of waste glass makes the glaze resistant, hard, and gives it a shiny appearance after firing.
In a series of experiments, I tested various waste materials from the catering industry. With the right mixing ratios, it is possible to create a glaze from these waste products. A glassy, smooth coating that bonds well to the surface can be produced. The bone ash tested also results in a matte glaze due to the phosphorus it contains. Depending on the available raw materials and their composition, the glaze always changes slightly. The glazes are continuously tested in the restaurants.
