13. Ori Orisun Merhav - Made by Insects.
Made by Insects delves into insect-produced polymer 'lac,' challenging its conventional role as a coating material, pushing it into new exciting realms.
As synthetic polymers diminish the demand for the natural material, designer Ori Orisun Merhav embarked on a journey to redefine its future. Inspired by the architectural prowess of insects forming their own cocoons, Orisun began shaping the material in three dimensions.
Collaborating with different craftsmen, scientists and engineers, this research reveals new skilful crafting techniques of the natural polymer, breaking away from its traditional flat applications and introducing innovative approaches to the material.
Bridging the gap between the lab and daily life, Orisun materialises this future through objects, installations, and artefacts, blurring the boundaries between function and sculpture, fiction and reality.
Designer: Ori Orisun Merhav
Project: Made by Insects
Material Breakdown: Biodegradable coating material
Main Uses: Wooden furniture, medical industry, food industry, cosmetics
Key Fact: The material is made from the leftover of an insect’s life cycle - no insect is harmed in the harvesting process.
