a project and an exhibition combining research, biomaterial-textile artefacts, and paintings - all centered around the medical sector.
OPERATION
Biodegradable:
the exhibition
Is an interactive textile-based exhibition produced through a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh’s School of Design and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, exploring the use of regenerative biomaterials within the surgical operating theatre.
18-27 April, 2025
Brought to the audiences by staff, students and graduates at the University of Edinburgh, showcasing a range of artwork, artefacts and prototypes, it offers a hands-on opportunity to engage with and understand the challenges and potential solutions in designing an operating theatre that better supports surgeons and the environment.
the project
OPERATION
Biodegradable:
Project direction: Ruta Vronevskyte, Collette Paterson, Edinburgh College of Art
3rd year BA (Hons) Textiles students from Edinburgh College of Art respond to proposition and provocation to ‘grow‘ a biodegradable operating theatre of the future. Following an initial visit to the Department of Neurosciences, student’s thinking and approaches included reconsidering the spaces, devices, materials, and physical interactions that take place in the operating theatre.
The material potential and mycelium and various textiles composites was pushed to determine scope for biodegradability, creation of new surfaces, shapes and forms, and the possibilities to identify regenerative source of ‘food‘ for the mycelium to thrive and grow.
Project is inspired by a collaborative research project - Surgical Switch.
Ruta Vronevskyte is a part of the Surgical Switch research group and also was a tutor for the project Operation Biodegradable.