Thrifty Thursdays: Fernando Laposse on Sustainable Design Using Native Mexican Corn

Did you know corn was first planted in Mexico 9000 years ago and that the country now has over 60 different species, each with its own wonderful flavour, color and texture? Join us for a fascinating talk by Fernando Laposse as he discusses how he is using naturally colourful native Mexican corn husks to create a new sustainable material called Totomoxtle, a surfacing veneer for interiors and furniture. Produced in partnership with indigenous farmers, Laposse will provide insight into how such a project can help to create greater awareness for the uncertain future of farmers using traditional harvesting methods, provide local employment opportunities, promote crop diversity and help ensure that heirloom varieties continue to be farmed in Mexico. About Fernando Laposse Fernando Laposse is a London based Mexican designer with a BA in product design from Central Saint Martins in 2012. He was born in Paris, France. His work is deeply rooted in material experimentation and craft, with a great emphasis on self production and the DIYculture. Fernando strives to transform materials which are cheap, readily available, and often waste or perishable matter, enabling him to make crossovers between product design and gastronomy. His projects aim to raise questions regarding whole system thinking, ephemerality, patterns of consumption and the politics of food production through the creation of design objects, performances and videos. This is a free event, however booking is required. This event is part of Thrifty Thursdays – a series of free events running alongside the current exhibition ‘The Land We Live In – The Land We Left Behind’. Taking the exhibition as a starting point to explore themes relating to the rural, each week a different artist, writer, gardener, land-worker, academic or performer will join us. The bar will be open before the event from 5.45 pm until 6.30 pm.

Image courtesy Fernando Laposse