Coco En Forma, Objects, Nicaragua, Toronto, 2022
In a small fishing village in Nicaragua, with limited resources and an excess of Coconuts, Justin Pape and I set out to create a formable material that relied as heavily as possible on the the immediate local materials and elements.
With constant power outages in the area effecting both the electricity and running water, we wanted to be able to create this material with out having to rely on having power. Using a non-electric gas stove and water directly from the ocean, we were able to bypass those issues.
On the beach near the property, a seawall made of large rocks had been erected in order to deal with rising water and tides associated with global climate change. In the day time, in the direct sun, temperatures would reach an average of around 40ºc, heating and getting stored within the rocks. We used this to our advantage in order to quickly dry the material so that mold growth would not happen in this very humid environment, as well as use the disinfecting properties of the sun along with the lime to help kill any harmful bacteria.
The Coco material was then formed over easily found objects (a Fanta bottle and a piece of the sea wall) to form usable objects such as a bowl and light shade.
With more time and resources, our goal is to create an easily made biodegradable material that could be used to help curb the waste that litters both the ocean and land. It would help with not only the garbage of the area, but could be an alternative to purchasing certain items in an area with little to no disposable income.
Materials
Dried coconut husk, corn starch, salt water, lime
Coco En Forma, Objects, Nicaragua, Toronto, 2022
In a small fishing village in Nicaragua, with limited resources and an excess of Coconuts, Justin Pape and I set out to create a formable material that relied as heavily as possible on the the immediate local materials and elements.
With constant power outages in the area effecting both the electricity and running water, we wanted to be able to create this material with out having to rely on having power. Using a non-electric gas stove and water directly from the ocean, we were able to bypass those issues.
On the beach near the property, a seawall made of large rocks had been erected in order to deal with rising water and tides associated with global climate change. In the day time, in the direct sun, temperatures would reach an average of around 40ºc, heating and getting stored within the rocks. We used this to our advantage in order to quickly dry the material so that mold growth would not happen in this very humid environment, as well as use the disinfecting properties of the sun along with the lime to help kill any harmful bacteria.
The Coco material was then formed over easily found objects (a Fanta bottle and a piece of the sea wall) to form usable objects such as a bowl and light shade.
With more time and resources, our goal is to create an easily made biodegradable material that could be used to help curb the waste that litters both the ocean and land. It would help with not only the garbage of the area, but could be an alternative to purchasing certain items in an area with little to no disposable income.
Materials
Dried coconut husk, corn starch, salt water, lime
Info >
Nicole is a Canadian multidisciplinary artist. She uses various mediums to explore each project or series. Her work has been shown in North America including The Art Gallery of Ontario. She has worked with companies such as Nike, Indigo, Holt Renfrew and TedxToronto. Plus she has been featured by Saatchi Art, CBC and The Coveteur, among others.
Nicole received a BA in Visual Arts from Western University and a Diploma in Graphic Design from the Toronto Film School. She is currently based in Toronto, Canada.
Contact
Email nicoledcharles@gmail.com
Instagram @nicoledcharles
CV
Project 107 (gallery space)
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Info >
Nicole is a Canadian multidisciplinary artist. She uses various mediums to explore each project or series. Her work has been shown in North America including The Art Gallery of Ontario. She has worked with companies such as Nike, Indigo, Holt Renfrew and TedxToronto. Plus she has been featured by Saatchi Art, CBC and The Coveteur, among others.
Nicole received a BA in Visual Arts from Western University and a Diploma in Graphic Design from the Toronto Film School. She is currently based in Toronto, Canada.
Contact
Email nicoledcharles@gmail.com
Instagram @nicoledcharles
CV
Project 107 (gallery space)
Select Projects >