Dross

Long description

Dross investigates the recovery of steel slag, waste quartz and residual heat that form a large percentage of the waste by-products of the molten iron processing industry that are otherwise thrown into landfills. By using the materials and residual energy found on the geographical site, the project focuses on innovating with industrial methods and manufacturing techniques common to the factory worker by following principles of utility and proximity. The aesthetics of the objects are a result of scrap metal objects found in the factory’s waste pile. Scrapped bits found on site are welded together to create forms and moulds, filled in with the waste raw material and then baked in the residual heat of the steel furnace. Thus, sintering to form strong bonds and create the desired shape of furniture or household items.

The project is key to the factory workers that live in the factory – by being an active resource of income as these are techniques and methods that they are familiar with but also they have unlimited access to the waste material and other resources. The artifacts created through this process are meant to start a dialogue about the consumption of materials and manufacturing processes by allowing room for thought to develop a more responsible sense towards use of resources. This project is in collaboration with Southern Ferro Ltd, Hubli, India a recycling steel scrap foundry. 

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