Vanessa Billy

100 % animal blood, heat pressed.
This research into bio-plastics began 6 years ago as I wanted to produce my own casting material and stop relying on commercial bio-polymers that are still environmentally problematic.
I started looking at organic local waste streams, which is mostly made up of food industry leftovers. I was struck by the fact that 80% of the blood from slaughterhouses is disappeared / burnt and of the remaining 15% is used as fertilizer or pet feed and 5% for human consumption.

Blood carries profound cultural and spiritual meanings, threading through human rituals, religions, and literature. It epitomizes the essence of life and the transition to death, embodying an intricate web of interpretations. Across cultures, blood embodies a spectrum of symbolism. It represents both life’s vitality coursing through veins and the inevitable end when spilled.

Interestingly, in the 1800 a technique called Bois Durci – a litteral translation of ‘hardened wood’ - used blood and sawdust to create a wide range of utilitarian and decorative objects. A precursor of plastics, it was made obsolete by 1920’s with the arrival of synthetic plastics.

A turning point was when I started polishing the pressed pieces – the surface became smooth and highly reflective! When I scaled up my mould, different shades came out, probably to do with heat variations. I can’t wait to take it to the next stage and produce finished pieces.

Thank you #timbuechel for all the support
#leonorkotoun for the precious assistance
@sitterwerk for the residency
@kunstgiesserei_sg for access to the workshops
@prohelvetia for funding this research

📷 5 and 6 #theocowley, 2 and 4 @titazuriq

#bioplastic #wastestreams #localressources #animalblood #hemoglobin #boisdurci