With all the talk of climate change and cutting carbon footprints, and governments of the world seeming to drag their feet in the effort, designers and artists are taking the issue into their own hands. Studio Formafantasma has joined in this effort with their installation, Autarchy.

Autarchy, is a political philosophy which forms part of anarchism and values the principle of individual liberty while rejecting compulsory government. This installation captures this spirit by creating an alternative way of producing goods. Autarchy consists of a series of functional vessels and lights made of 70% flour, 10% limestone and 20% of agricultural waste from the production of cereal. Vegetables, spices and roots provide pigmentation. Cinnamon, beet, paprika and spinach imbue the vessels with delicate shades of russet, saffron and mint. The objects are coated with beeswax and colophonia (pine tar) to make them water resistant. Since they are made completely of natural materials, the jars, bowls and lights in this series are all biodegradable. They look like earthenware pots from prehistoric times. Their only embellishments, besides the colors, are belts cinched around their waists, creating a charming detail. Studio Formafantasma is joined in this installation with French bakery Poilane and Italian broom maker Giuseppe Brunello. The different partners work together to create the image of a beatific world that has gone back to the basics of life.

While Autarchy was created as a result of the day and age we find ourselves in, it harks back to a time when things were much simpler and we weren’t caught up in the spell of marketers and an obsession for economic growth.

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