Nishtha Luhadia and Aditi Shinde Uses SCOBY for an Art Exhibit
Amy Duong — January 16, 2025 — Art & Design
References: yankodesign
Nishtha Luhadia and Aditi Shinde work together to use a kombucha by-product known as SCOBY, otherwise known as a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast to create a biomaterial. This is used to apply in an art exhibition dubbed Luminous Lore.
This is an installation that brings attention to Tholu Bommalata, which is a shadow puppet theater tradition in India. Instead of the traditional material that is often used to create the puppets, which is usually buffalo, goat, and deer hide, it uses leather from SCOBY, fermenting tea, water, vinegar, and sugar. The leather uses a large Tholu Bommalata-inspired lamp which plays with light along the surface to tell an intricate surface and engage with the audience.
Image Credit: Nishtha Luhadia, Aditi Shinde
This is an installation that brings attention to Tholu Bommalata, which is a shadow puppet theater tradition in India. Instead of the traditional material that is often used to create the puppets, which is usually buffalo, goat, and deer hide, it uses leather from SCOBY, fermenting tea, water, vinegar, and sugar. The leather uses a large Tholu Bommalata-inspired lamp which plays with light along the surface to tell an intricate surface and engage with the audience.
Image Credit: Nishtha Luhadia, Aditi Shinde
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Biomaterials - Utilizing kombucha by-products like SCOBY for leather production presents a path toward eco-friendly materials in fashion and design.
2. Cultural Heritage Revitalization - Integrating modern biomaterials into traditional arts like Tholu Bommalata highlights the potential to renew cultural practices with sustainability.
3. Innovative Art Installations - Using SCOBY-formed leather in art installations offers a novel medium for artists to explore the intersection of nature and culture.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion and Textiles - The incorporation of SCOBY-based leathers into textile applications can revolutionize the sustainability goals within the fashion industry.
2. Art and Exhibitions - Art installations utilizing biomaterials can transform exhibition spaces by introducing eco-conscious storytelling.
3. Cultural Preservation Technology - Adopting sustainable materials in preserving and showcasing cultural artifacts can redefine traditional preservation methods.
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