Contemporary Design

Mekri

by Sanni Havas, Jimin Hong, Ronja Kortelainen, Helena Lundahl, Lotta Maija Paananen, Sandra Prami, Jule Timm
Table covered with a white cloth, candles, cake and coffe on it

Seaweed as a future material:

Performance + material research inspired by harmful algae blooms / investigating algae‘s potential, cultural and ecological value

Mekri was a performance that was inspired by old Finnish traditions and celebrated algae. 

Our project started by looking at the correlations of the Baltic Sea in Finland - at harmful algae blooms due to eutrophication and how we could recognize the potential algae has as a material. Can we use algae as a material in everyday life? We collected filamentous algae and created different material samples. Then, we continued by using algae as an ingredient in dishes and built up an imagined tradition as an ode to the ocean.

Edible alage cake ready to be served
Cake against a backdrop of candles
Material samples presented on a table
A person standing in the sea holding a green lump of algae
A collection of algae themed greetings cards

Photography by Jimin Hong

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