2019

For thousands of years, baskets have been woven from materials at hand, reflecting the character of the place in which they are made. These baskets, too, have been constructed from locally-sourced natural and manufactured materials in plentiful supply, and comment on sustainability, disposal and reuse.

Caves store permanent records of temperature and rainfall patterns. Recent research has discovered that as they form, cave stalagmites act as prehistoric weather stations, recording chemical variations linked to climate. Stalagmites sit quietly in the dark dripping away for thousands of years, silently witnessing the changes going on around them. While tree rings hold data from the past 500-2000 years, stalagmites which also grow in laminations, allow researchers to go back an incredible 500,000 years.

These “urban stalagmites” are also constructed in rings. Reflected in the conscious use of recycled and found materials, there is a record of our current unsustainable consumer habits and living practices. Environmental concerns and climate change are ongoing concerns and this work promotes thought and raises awareness about excessive consumerism and its lasting effect on our environment.

About the Artist

Nicole de Mestre's website