SEAMPATHY-Mayma

DANIEL ELKAYAM

Daniel Elkayam is a Jerusalem based designer and the mind behind 'SEAmpathy'. ‘SEAmpathy’ is a project that explores using algae to make a series of vegan materials. 

By embracing the idea of biophilia, the work examines forming a connection between humans and nature. Taking two different approaches, elkayam has created ‘YAMA’ and ‘MAYMA’, which both use the algae to envision a more sustainable design process.

‘MAYMA’ is the reconstruction of the algae to make a configuration of living fibers that sustain photosynthesis. after many attempts, the designer reached the accuracy required to produce a shell for the algae that on the one hand allows the material to transform into a formation of spheres or fibers, and on the other, allows gases to exchange and the continuation of living material. ‘MAYMA’ was conceived in collaboratation with weizmann institution for science and dr. filipe natalio’s lab for researching and developing methods for creating living matter.