Horsetail bio-material. 2023

Material developed for hand modelling, moulding and 3D printing.

The key ingredient of my biomaterial is Field Horsetail (Equisetum Arvense) a common plant descended from the prehistoric Calamites, much of which became coal in the Carboniferous period. Field Horsetail’s unusual physical properties are hinted at in its historical common names such as pewterwort, scouring rush or gunbright. Gardeners hate it because they can’t get rid of it due to its deep root rhizomes.

Field Horsetail’s evolution, historical use, contemporary attitudes towards it and material properties provide a rich context for conversations around climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, animating reflections on valuu and legacy.