Atelier
DashaTsapenko
Cutting-Edge Beans
2023
"Cutting Edge Beans" originated from the Dutch term Knipselbonen (Cutting’ beans) also referred as Drogebonen (Dry Beans). Bean species that belong to these category are dried and eaten together with their pods. Back in the days freshly harvested bean pods were put on strings to dry, preserving them for cold winters. Nowadays only a few Dutch farmers still do that – the process of drying is too labor-intensive, doing it mechanically is not possible.
Traditionally Knipselbonen are consumed in meat stews, often with potato. Dry bean pods are soaked in water overnight and then cut with scissors. A hearty bean stew, still beloved by older generations, lost its popularity in the past decades, being considered as ‘heavy’ and hardly digestible. Are there alternatives and what is the future of Knipselbonen?
"Cutting Edge Beans" emphasizes, celebrates and examines the bean pod in a variety of forms – as an aesthetic element, a biomaterial and as a nutritious edible ingredient. Through hands-on material research and recipe testing, the project offers a new take on beans in general.
The old Dutch tradition of bean stringing is honoured by weaving the bean strings into garments. A collection of 4 hand-made coats showcases bean pods in their various stages and aethetic – air dried, in combination with mycelium and as vegan sausages.
Commission: Artphy
Role: concept, research, design
Assistance: Maria Kytaieva
Collaborators: Han Wosten, Parisa Yousef Doust, Malica Ferments
Photocredits: Maria Kytaieva
Traditionally Knipselbonen are consumed in meat stews, often with potato. Dry bean pods are soaked in water overnight and then cut with scissors. A hearty bean stew, still beloved by older generations, lost its popularity in the past decades, being considered as ‘heavy’ and hardly digestible. Are there alternatives and what is the future of Knipselbonen?
"Cutting Edge Beans" emphasizes, celebrates and examines the bean pod in a variety of forms – as an aesthetic element, a biomaterial and as a nutritious edible ingredient. Through hands-on material research and recipe testing, the project offers a new take on beans in general.
The old Dutch tradition of bean stringing is honoured by weaving the bean strings into garments. A collection of 4 hand-made coats showcases bean pods in their various stages and aethetic – air dried, in combination with mycelium and as vegan sausages.
Commission: Artphy
Role: concept, research, design
Assistance: Maria Kytaieva
Collaborators: Han Wosten, Parisa Yousef Doust, Malica Ferments
Photocredits: Maria Kytaieva
MYC_ Curtain
2023
MYC_Curatin is an art piece grown with mycelium, specially for the new office of AKZ Architectura in Kyiv.
Commisioner: AKZ Architectura
Photocredits: Maria Kytaieva
Commisioner: AKZ Architectura
Photocredits: Maria Kytaieva
MYC_couture
2022-2023
MYCouture is a material research into collaborative methods of growing garments with mycelium, using raw and spinned industrial hemp (C.Sativa) as a reinforcement and nutrition for the mycelium.
MYCouture aims to conceptualize and develop a new way of sustainable garment co-creation. It combines traditional manual textile crafts with scientific research in bio-design. A capsule collection of grown garments that embodies a mutually-defined relationship between 2 designers: a human one (knitter, tufter, felter, weaver, etc) and growing fungi (T.Betulina, S.Commune, H.Lucida). Each garment presents its own innovative production process, where fungi induces the hemp with a special quality – reinforcement/binder/ water repellent coating / one-of-a-kind ornament / grown pattern etc, in such a way upcycling it.
The project is developed with support of microbiology department of Utrecht University in the framework of Talent Development Grant NL.
Role: concept, research, design
Collaborators: Han Wosten, Utrecht University
-> https://talent.stimuleringsfonds.nl/dasha_tsapenko
Photocredits: Alex Blanco
MYCouture aims to conceptualize and develop a new way of sustainable garment co-creation. It combines traditional manual textile crafts with scientific research in bio-design. A capsule collection of grown garments that embodies a mutually-defined relationship between 2 designers: a human one (knitter, tufter, felter, weaver, etc) and growing fungi (T.Betulina, S.Commune, H.Lucida). Each garment presents its own innovative production process, where fungi induces the hemp with a special quality – reinforcement/binder/ water repellent coating / one-of-a-kind ornament / grown pattern etc, in such a way upcycling it.
The project is developed with support of microbiology department of Utrecht University in the framework of Talent Development Grant NL.
Role: concept, research, design
Collaborators: Han Wosten, Utrecht University
-> https://talent.stimuleringsfonds.nl/dasha_tsapenko
Photocredits: Alex Blanco
Growing Gunya
2022-2023
Gunya is a Ukrainian traditional wool coat, originally worn by Hutsul shepherds in the Carpathian mountains. Providing physical protection from severe weather and animals, throughout the years it has carried a deep symbolic meaning, serving as an amulet for its owners. Using the classic shepherd’s coat as a template,stories of local materials, natural components and living organisms are told. The use of different cellulose and protein based materials in combination with natural dyeing techniques show the ample variety of outcomes and possibilities. The project was developed and executed in between Ukraine and the Netherlands, adopting local crafts and innovative technique of both countries.
Role: concept, research, design
Collaborators: Marjo Van Schaik, Ruslana Goncharuk, Ilse Kremer, Devo Home
-> https://www.mediamatic.net/en/page/386876/story-of-growing-gunya
Photocredits: Alex Blanco
Role: concept, research, design
Collaborators: Marjo Van Schaik, Ruslana Goncharuk, Ilse Kremer, Devo Home
-> https://www.mediamatic.net/en/page/386876/story-of-growing-gunya
Photocredits: Alex Blanco