Liminal Sediments

Liminal Sediments delves into the notion of liminality: The state of being in-between. Using discarded quarry waste as a medium, the project explores the implications of transitional stages in the material development process.

As a result, a matrix installation of 16 cubes which were crafted from extruded bricks out of quarry waste, was created in Alter Botanischer Garten Zürich as part of the Design Biennale Zürich 2023. Demonstrating the range of hues achievable through varied firing temperatures of a single material, each cube also employs a distinct dry stacking pattern. 

Liminal Sediments. SE, 2023.

Extruded and fired bricks. 2023.

Rather than focusing solely on final outcomes, this project celebrates the uniqueness and potential that each phase contains. It highlights how starting from the same point can lead to diverse manifestations of the material, emphasizing the multiplicity of possibilities.

In the midst of uncertainty and ambiguity, the state of being in-between also holds a transformative potential. It encourages to embrace the process of becoming, recognizing the value in learning from each stage and appreciating the layers of development that unfold.

Collecting the waste material. Ilanz. SE, 2023.

Creating conditions that allow these liminal stages to thrive, the project engages in the alchemical process of crafting bricks. Through this exploration, sintering and vitrification processes of the material are investigated to reveal the intricate nuances of temperature, time, and the chemical reactions that take place during firing.


Stacking arrangements in the kiln. Nendeln. SE, 2023.

By challenging conventional notions of value, Liminal Sediments opens up a path to explore alternative perspectives. It invites the audience to reconsider what is typically accepted in the current paradigm, provoking questions about the inherent worth of materials and the significance we assign to them.


Liminal Sediments Installation. Alter Botanischer Garten Zürich. SE, 2023.

Setting up the installation. Alter Botanischer Garten Zürich. SE, 2023.


Object close-up. Alter Botanischer Garten Zürich. SE, 2023.

 

Liminal Sediments Installation. Alter Botanischer Garten Zürich. SE, 2023.


Project info


2023 - Ilanz -Graubünden - CH
Gravel quarry waste
Project was exhibited as part of Design Biennale Zürich 2023.
Installation was set-up in Alter Botanischer Garten Zürich.
Many thanks to Philipp Eigenmann for the support for the production of the bricks.