KORAL
KORAL gives a central place to those that we usually overlook or actively ignore. Corals.In the last 30 years, we have lost 50% of the world‘s corals due to rising water temperatures. When the water temperature rises around corals, the algae that are in their skin disappear as a protective mechanism. The corals give us a signal by turning white. White corals are not dead, they are dying. They can recover when the water temperature drops again.
But that only happens if we act. If we care. When I think about figurines, I think about kitsch and people having porcelain figures somewhere on their shelves, waiting for them to slowly dust away. KORAL is a more interactive approach to figurines. KORAL generates a relationship with the figurine, not just an emotional one but a relationship that depends on each other. You have to care about KORAL, to keep it alive. By underfiring the 3D-printed porcelain, it absorbs water and moisturizes the surface. To create a reciprocal relationship with the figure, I immediately thought of a living figure. Something special that deserves your attention. The 3D printed structure is the perfect base for planting on the surface. By absorbing water, the porcelain keeps them alive. But only if one cares about it. Feeding it with water and attention. This project is nowhere near a solution to coral bleaching around the world. But it brings corals back into our daily lives.
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