Explorando la Ecología Material: materiales biobasados, taxonomías y procesado

Material ecology focuses on analysing the flows and cycles of materials in ecosystems, examining how they interact with organisms and their environment. In the creative field, this discipline researches and develops bio-based materials through both digital and analogue production methods, within an interdisciplinary framework that integrates biology, materials science, engineering and computing. This convergence offers enormous potential to drive creativity and design.

Biomaterials, also known as bio-based materials or Do It Yourself (DIY) Materials, are a recent innovation derived from experimentation with biological tissues, made possible by advances in biotechnology. Biomateriality involves the use of materials of biological origin or inspired by nature for the design and development of products, technologies and systems based on animal or plant resources. Biofabrication techniques are divided into two main categories: grown materials (Growing Materials) and manually processed materials (Craft Materials). Research in this field is booming, offering almost unlimited opportunities due to the diversity of additives and approaches available. Biofabrication follows a cyclical methodology that includes the phases of development, modelling, implementation and composting, integrating natural cycles into the production of biomaterials.

As a case study, BioLabMatrix is presented, an artistic installation conceived as a «materials library» of bio-based tissues incorporating cyanobacteria biomass (Arthrospira Platensis). In contemporary art, the use of biomaterials not only drives aesthetic innovation but also fosters a profound discourse on the interconnection between human creativity and nature, offering solutions to various environmental crises within a framework of sustainability.