Sustainable Ceramics #1

The group exhibition Sustainable Ceramics #1: Recycled, Repaired, Reactivated opens in the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics on 25 November 2023 and runs until 3 November 2024. Artists and designers from the Netherlands and abroad focus on the future of sustainability within their field. By reusing materials, and repairing and reactivating works, the objects in this exhibition have significantly less negative impact on the planet. The exhibition explores both conventional and modern methods of sustainable ceramic production: from mosaics composed from shards, to pioneering forms of biomineralisation. With these impressive and innovative works, the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics aims to inspire visitors to think about repairing and recycling in their daily lives. Sustainable Ceramics #1: Recycled, Repaired, Reactivated is the first in a trilogy of exhibitions on sustainability.

Featuring works by Kerstin Abraham (Germany, 1956), Alix Arto (Switzerland, 1994), Olivia Barisano (France, 1982), Thelma Boateng (Netherlands, 1994), Jie Chen (China, 1988), Nicole Chrysikou (Greece, 1992), Sara Howard (UK, 1997), Katrine Køster Holst (Denmark, 1979), Neha Kudchadkar (India, 1982), Cleo Mussi (UK, 1965), Benedetta Pompili (Italy, 1995), Caroline Slotte (Finland, 1975), Bart Vernooij (Netherlands, 1996), and others.

The production of ceramics is extremely unsustainable: clay is fired at high temperatures which consumes huge amounts of energy, glazing is often highly polluting, and raw materials are finite. With the Sustainable Ceramics exhibition series, the Princessehof investigates the future of ceramics as a medium, and what this future holds for artists and designers, as well as for museums. In this first exhibition, both makers and visitors are invited to think about reusing (raw) materials. The exhibition is an invitation to be creative and think about recycling, repairing and reactivating ceramics.

Greta Thunberg

Cleo Mussi created a mosaic especially for the exhibition from shards of old ceramics, featuring climate activist Greta Thunberg. “She was the perfect subject, because she connects with the next generation in terms of her approach to solving the climate crisis. She urges everyone to contribute, because everyone can, even if only in a small way. Together, we can achieve great things.”

Rock-solid bacteria

The production of ceramics is a polluting process. To make the process more sustainable, designer Nicole Chrysikou decided to find a new production method that creates robust ceramics that do not require kiln firing. In collaboration with scientists, she cultivated a specific bacterial culture, which transforms ceramic waste into hard ceramics. With the project BacTerra, Chrysikou hopes to initiate a discussion about the promising possibilities of biotechnology within ceramics and traditional crafts.