Until I first saw some examples of different bioplastics online, and eventually experimented with making my own, I had never come across a material like it before. It can take many different forms and shapes, really only limited to the mold you are pouring/casting it into and other decisions of the sort. When cast thin, it can take on the form of something like translucent jello-fabric. Cast even thinner, it can be almost as a paper or a film, curling its edges as it dries out. It can even be worn, as shown by artist Tiare Ribeaux in their "Bioplastic Cookbook for Ritual Healing from Petrochemical Landscapes", an online resource where I was originally exposed to the concept of DIY bioplastics cooking.
The ‘AgarAgar Bioplastic Lights’ series is conceptually and aesthetically centered around a new type of ‘Post-Plastic’ material, derived not from the usual plastics source material of Petrochemicals, but instead from Red Algae. Algae is a naturally occurring substance which is abundant in nature and completely biodegradable. Along with other types of Bioplastic, Agar Agar is being used in many new forms of industrial and commercial plastics applications as a more sustainable option. Agar Agar powder is made into a workable Bioplastic material from combining it with Glycerin/Glycerol, Water, and whatever color pigmentation is desired, which can be done at home or in any DIY cooking setup.
