Talabang Gamit is an exploration of oyster shells as a base for bio-material composites due to the high chemical properties of calcium carbonate present. Oysters are an incredible organism, they’re a source of nourishment for many populations, filter the bodies of water they inhabit, and as a material, their applications vary from the construction industry to climate change mitigation strategies. However, improper disposal can lead to water and soil contamination from the heavy metals that are filtered by the oysters.
As an act of intervention and, with hope, prevention, this project was created with disposed oyster shells from restaurants and beaches in the Netherlands. The shells have been cleaned and processed into three sizes: fine, coarse, and larger fragments to create aggregate materials for different applications.
In this exploration, square and rectangular tiles and a plate set were created to visualise potential uses of the bio-material. This project is inspired by the decorative use of oyster shells in Filipino homes and Delftware ceramics from the Netherlands. The objects are adorned with cultural symbols, landscapes, and lyrics from the Philippines and are painted in a similar shade of cobalt blue used in Delftware.
Final Project BioHack Academy 2024
