A friendly enemy – the japanese knotweed and its use in paper-making. Spread the word!

Take part in designing proposals for raising awareness about the new natural dynamics, related to the Japanese knotweed’s rapid spreading. The workshop will be held on three successive Wednesdays in November 2015 at the Department of Industrial and Unique Design (Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana - ALUO).

Photo: Re-Generacija

Second Event: SPREAD THE WORD!
WORKSHOP ON THE USES OF THE JAPANESE KNOTWEED: THE JAPANESE KNOTWEED AS A MEDIUM FOR COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL COMMENTARY

Dates: Three successive Wednesdays in November — 4th, 11th and 18th November 2015
Registration and more info: infobio@mao.si, + 386 (0)1 548 42 74
Location: The Department of Industrial and Unique Design at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design of the University of Ljubljana, Dolenjska cesta 83, 1000 Ljubljana
Contact: gaja.meznaric@gmail.com
Application deadline: 30 October 2015

Participation in the workshop is free of charge!

When applying, please add a brief motivation letter (up to 500 characters). Explain your interest in taking part in this workshop and describe how it relates to your work/study interests.

Apply by 30 October 2015 to infobio@mao.si. You'll be notified of your acceptance by 2 November.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Due to their resistance to harsh climatic conditions, human intervention, pests and infertile soil, the invasive non-native plant species will soon become a significant part of our living environments. The rapid spread of invasive plants destabilizes naturally established ecosystems, causes damage to the infrastructure and buildings and worries the local population.

Unlimited and fast circulation of goods, related to the contemporary economic paradigm, inadvertently contributed to a new form of monumental horticulture. We can witness a unique interspecies conflict on a global scale, that urges us to take the opportunity to think about our attitude towards nature — that same nature that has been pushed into the background and is now demanding to be heard again.

What role can designers play in dealing with this issue that concerns us all? How can we contribute to the formation of sustainable strategies for taking care of the endangered habitats?

The workshop will be carried out in a collaboration with the Pulp and Paper Institute Ljubljana (ICP), the Craftsman Workshop Vevče and the Department of Industrial and Unique Design at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (ALUO) and will focus on possible uses of the the Japanese knotweed as an alternative source of cellulose fibers. Workshop sessions will be devoted to designing products, services, installations and art works, addressing and commenting the spread of invasive species and looking for suggestions on how to rethink the processes of changing natural dynamics, exemplified by the spread of the Japanese knotweed.

A FRIENDLY ENEMY – THE JAPANESE KNOTWEED AND ITS USE IN PAPER-MAKING project is part of the project HIDDEN POTENTIALS OF TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES, which is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.

See all #Features