JORGE COSTA

HOLOBIONT ASSEMBLAGE

I began experimenting with paper clay sheets during the COVID-19 Pandemic while working with different materials, processes, and surfaces. I am interested in using materials that are easily accessible, reusable/recyclable, and inexpensive. After exploring different paper clay recipes, surface consistencies, and forms, I noticed that the recipes that worked best for me (which I ended up reusing) could be endlessly investigated. For instance, changing the amount of one ingredient alone will result in significant surface variations, such as different consistencies, colors, and water-absorbing qualities. Another obvious example of how one ingredient can modify the surface and its consistency is the type of paper used in the process (e.g., paper bags, cardboard, toilet paper, egg cartons, etc.), each with its unique physical properties that, when combined, produce interesting textures and visual experiences. Some sheets are more rigid and less water-absorbing, while others are softer in consistency and prone to soak in more media. I also noticed that individual sheets, while drying, would often shift from a flat plane into a curved plane, slightly activating the audience's space and their plane of vision. The curvature of each sheet depended on a variety of factors, such as the thickness of individual sheets, the type of paper used, and which drying technique was utilized (e.g., fans, blow dryers, sunbaked, or a combination of all three). I also came to understand how the type of mark-making that I was able to produce on a given surface was dependent on the consistency of its form. My interest in drawing biomorphic forms stems from my research into the world of microbiology, including the scientific work of evolutionary biologist Lynn Margulis, whose research on "symbiosis in evolution" was a turning point in our understanding of genomic evolution. I am fascinated by the symbiotic relationships between bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. Holobiont Assemblage is an experimental drawing in progress, encompassing references to different life forms living as an ecological unit.