Updates from Jessie and Lichen’s studio at La Pause in the Agafay desert outside of Marrakech, Morocco, where there are on residency with four other artists from around the world.

Lichen and Jessie have arrived in the Agafay desert outside of Marrakech, Morocco at La Pause residency. Over the next five weeks, they will collaborate closely on their shared practice, Biomutualism – a joint endeavour exploring symbiotic relationships in nature, culture and economics.

Skin-like and coloured with grapeskin and marigold, this material is silky and stretchy with other-worldly patterning. Lichen and Jessie’s experiments with sheets of bioplastic have resulted in a material with qualities closest to latex.

Jessie and Lichen’s continued studio tests of bioplastic this week resulted in development of kelp cups. These delicate glass-like vessels are made from a bioplastic that includes three kinds of seaweed. They are made to decompose within about a week and are safe to drink from. Tested by the artists for a Friday night drinks at their Testing Grounds studio.

In preparation for an upcoming project, Jessie and Lichen have been experimenting with algae-based bioplastics.

Using agar, which is derived from red algae and alginate, derived from brown algae, along with natural dyes including marigold and grape skin, we have been running initial tests on a couple of recipes to experience the form and character of different ingredient ratios.

Jessie and Lichen have been selected as artists for the La Pause residency in the Agafay desert, south of Marrakech Morocco.