by Warre Everaert

Opening: 24.09 at 6pm

ALU Casted over Orbeez is a series of sculptural objects that originated from an in-depth material study exploring the expressive potential of recycled aluminum. The aluminum used is made entirely from reclaimed material, which is remelted and given a second life through a handcrafted and experimental making process. During the casting process, molten aluminum is poured into a sand mold that has been pre-filled with Orbeez. These are small polymer-based hydrogel beads that expand significantly when exposed to water. These seemingly playful and fragile elements act as a temporary structural framework within the mold. As the molten aluminum flows around and between the beads, it creates an unpredictable interplay of cavities, curves, and organic transitions. The result is a unique, tactile surface that feels both fluid and porous, exploring the tension between control and chance, and between industrial materiality and organic form. Each object bears the traces of its making process, making every piece inherently unique. With ALU Casted over Orbeez, an everyday material is elevated into a material experiment and a visual narrative about transformation, circularity, and the aesthetics of the making process.