As part of the annual group exhibition at Holmen Campus in 2023, themed Planetary Boundaries, my project explored the environmental impact of clay extraction from aquatic ecosystems.

These habitats sustain diatoms - microscopic organisms responsible for producing 20-40% of the Earth’s breathable oxygen. Over time, their silica-rich skeletons accumulate on the seabed, forming deposits that eventually contribute to clay.

However, extracting clay and water from these fragile environments disrupts vital ecosystems, raising concerns about ecological imbalance, since diatoms rely on the remains of earlier generations to build new ones.

By integrating waste materials, my project critically examined the ceramicist’s role in this process, inviting reflection on the hidden environmental costs of resource extraction.