Laboratorium

Laboratorium is part of The Color Biolab, a project that contextualizes color in contemporary art and design questioning its related environmental issues. This proposal identifies the environmental impact of the color industry and envisions the shift towards a sustainable approach in color.

Current research is focused on finding alternative materials for the color industry, but does not question what color should be or how to interfere in production and application. Biolab approaches KASK as a living lab and introduces circular biobased economy systems by generating pigments from microalgae growing on KASK’s wastewater to initiate a sustainable internal color production. Once applied these living colors fade. Their characteristics will be explored through microalgae inkjet printing.

The second research line rethinks color generation structurally. Structural coloration produces color by microscopically structured surfaces in fine layers that interfere with light. Structural colors are responsible for iridescence. This research positions KASK as the first institution applying this technology in arts and design.

If you are interested in participating or using these facilities, send an email to info@laboratorium.bio.

The Color Biolab project is funded by the Arts Research Fund of University College Ghent.