Environmental statement

" There is no question that our planet is facing a series of linked environmental crises. We are already seeing the impacts of existing warming with devastating droughts, storms and floods across the world. Related crises include collapsing biodiversity, dangerous levels of air pollution, and plastic contamination in our rivers and oceans.

As artists we are very much aware that the art world has a large impact on the environment, due to a great deal of international travel, arts shipping, high energy use and waste of materials.

Our goal is to minimize our ecological footprint from the creation of a work of art to the final exhibition.

We strive for environmental responsibility to become part of our DNA, embedded in everything we do, to ensure that future generations can survive and thrive in our world. "

Perbal/Bélibaste,  February 2024         

Energy:

Solar panels and a battery have been installed to supply electricity for both the house and the studio. Additionally, a solar boiler provides hot water. Once financially feasible, we intend to transition from gas to a heat pump installation. Furthermore, we plan to replace the tube lighting in the studio with LED lighting.

Water:

Rainwater collected in two tanks in the garden is connected to our house, studio, and toilets. We have just finished the first phase of constructing a natural pond to establish a mini-ecosystem.

Waste:

Waste is sorted into different fractions:

 - recyclable: glass, paper, metal, plastic, etc.

 - compostable waste : wood, garden and kitchen waste.

 - reusable things are taken to the thrift shop.

 - residual waste.

Material:

Whenever possible, we opt to work with natural and biodegradable materials such as wood, clay, and cotton thread. If a material isn't biodegradable, we seek out reusable or recyclable alternatives like metal and glass. We have a preference for second-hand items and materials that bear their own unique character and patina acquired through previous use. We remain committed to exploring ecological alternatives wherever feasible.

Paint: 

We utilize leftover paints, preferably water-soluble, obtained from a painter ( http://www.oldschooltechniques.com ), or we craft our own paint using natural pigments and chalk.

Fabric and thread:

In our work, we exclusively employ water-soluble stiffening agents such as vliesseline, made from potato starch. When incorporating textiles, we source second-hand fabrics and threads. While we generally use cotton thread, there are occasions where synthetic thread is necessary for durability and UV resistance.

Packaging:

We craft lightweight certified wooden transport boxes ourselves, designed as a visual extension of our artwork. In doing so, we encourage buyers to reuse the boxes rather than discarding them.

For protective layers, we repurpose blankets, stitching them to the appropriate size and labeling them with our name to encourage reuse by art galleries and museums. To fill voids, we utilize compostable filling material. Additionally, we minimize waste by reusing plastic packaging from deliveries whenever possible.

Shipping and traveling: 

Whenever possible, we transport our works ourselves. For European destinations we prefer a road journey by car and campertrailer instead of flights. In the future, we aim to replace our current vehicle with an electric one.