MOTHER OF PEARL  

Waste is treasure

My work focuses on research into innovative materials and the recycling of biowaste, applicable to everyday objects. I set up my studio and laboratory :Agence Censis Rubliss in 2021 in La Tremblade (17), Europe’s leading shellfish production center. I use local industrial waste (oyster/mussel shells), crush and grind them, then mix them with a 100% plant-based binder (also from France). All raw materials are local, 100% natural, biosourced, biodegradable, recyclable, renewable, industrially compostable, and free of toxic chemicals and plastics. I apply these materials to product design (lamps, vases, tableware) and interior architecture (tiles or panels) or fashion accessories (jewelry). I create textures, design and handcraft objects whose life cycle is more environmentally conscious.

For me, this discipline of reclaiming and using the living is a new ethic and a new skill to develop. It presents a new means of exploration and research, as these rapidly renewable materials have not yet been sufficiently taken into account in general industry.

There were times of stone, metal and then plastic. All have enabled great progress, but have left indelible marks on the environment and on animal and human species. I believe that gentler production is now essential. And for that, a holistic philosophy must be. Choosing the right raw materials, production and sales methods, as well as recovery and recycling methods, is essential if the product’s life cycle is to be virtuous from A to Z. It is important to further research the capacity of plant materials, to reduce the devastating impact on the land, but also to reduce the harmfulness of waste. Innovation is a holistic practice, integrating altruism, empathy, sincerity and transparency. It’s an effort that requires time, creativity and strong collaboration to stimulate and rethink our habits: a truly promising challenge!

That’s why it’s important to talk about the circular aspect of my artistic approach. To me, circularity refers to the ability to recycle and repurpose existing materials and scraps. This modus operandi reduces local waste by reintegrating end-of-life products into a cyclical process that guarantees the transparency and adaptability of our resources. Upcycled and recycled materials are central to my design process.
 

Environmental Impact & Sustainability:

The recycling of oyster or mussel shells in architecture and design has major ecological benefits:
- Waste Reduction: Fewer shells end up in landfills.
- Durable, Recyclable Materials: Oyster-based composites can be repurposed.
- Local Resource Utilization: Reduces transportation emissions and supports coastal economies.