Synthetic Blue Patung by Ze Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Bessi in Desain Seni Rupa dan Instalasi Seni Competition Category.

BessiSeni Rupa· 2026

Synthetic Blue Patung

by Ze Zhou

Client: Zoe Ze Zhou

A' Design Award Bessi Winner in Seni Rupa Category

4,564

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #180954

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Synthetic Blue Patung

Synthetic Blue iyanaritu séddi patung sipada rupanna sibawa uba-uba (ubur-ubur). Iyaé patung naébbu manengngi polé ri paréwa manré plastik siseng-pake iya ripakéssiwié, ripancaji baru sibawa pella nainappa ritaneng mattenttu ri lalenna resin. Bentu' kubbana naébbu sibawa pattenre' sibawa pella iya rikontrolo'é, natarongngi tekstur lapisanna iya mappaénggerangngé ri selaput mabbiologié. Iyaé jama-jamang tudang ri séddi baki resin macénnong iya ribingkaié aju, iya mébbué gambarang lapisan uwai maccura'é. Pammita bunge'na naitai iyaé barangngé selaku olokolo tasi', nainappa naissengngi plastik ribbéyangngé, séddi tappinra iya patujuéngngi paréntang ri akkéguna warowoé lao ri atuwongenna tasi'é.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Bessi

Synthetic Blue Patung iyanaritu pakoro A' Design Award Bessi, pakalebbi iya malebbi iya ripabbere ri desain makessing iya mappabbura persyaratan profesional sibawa industri iya ripakkirangngi pole ri ciptaan iya makessing ripikkiri. Pakoro Bessi mappakita keterampilan malompo, spesialisasi dalleng, pemahaman ahli sibawa kapasitas kreatif tau mabbuat. Synthetic Blue Patung ripakkirangngi mancaji ciptaan iya ripakalebbi, ripuji sibawa rirennu iya praktis sibawa inovatif. Desain pakoro A' Design Award Bessi iyae mappasilaong praktik tepat industri sibawa napaitai karakteristik teknis iya kompeten iya sipulung sibawa pengetahuan sibawa bakat. Nasaba ketelitiannna, Synthetic Blue Patung mappoleang pakalebbi sibawa ripikkiri mappabbere perbaikan kualitas laleng iya ritulung mappadeceng lino mancaji tempe makessing.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The sculpture is constructed entirely from reclaimed disposable plastic utensils that have been thermally reshaped and permanently embedded in resin.

The piece rests within a shallow resin basin framed in wood. Integrating material recycling, biomimetic morphology, and controlled thermoplastic manipulation, the work synthesizes sustainability, process-driven form, and ecological narrative into a cohesive sculptural object.
Dimensions & Packaging: The object is positioned within a shallow resin basin framed by wood, simulating a reflective water surface. This base establishes spatial context while stabilizing the structure.

The project merges material recycling, biomimetic morphology, and controlled thermoplastic manipulation into a single cohesive object.
Tags: Art，Sustainable Design，Environmental friendly，Product Design
Production Technology: The sculpture is constructed entirely from reclaimed disposable plastic utensils that have been thermally reshaped and embedded in resin. The dome structure is formed through compression and controlled heat processes, preserving surface textures that resemble biological membranes.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was balancing structural stability with organic irregularity. Thermoplastic materials deform unpredictably under heat, requiring iterative experimentation to maintain translucency without
collapse.

Another challenge involved achieving water-like optical depth within a shallow resin base while preserving clarity and minimizing air bubbles.
Research: It explores thermoplastic reconfiguration and biomimetic form translation. Through experimental heating and compression methods, disposable plastic utensils were transformed into semi-organic structures while maintaining evidence of their original function.

The research investigates how material memory, translucency, and deformation can simulate marine morphology. The work also examines visual misidentification as a design strategy, translating ecological phenomena into object-scale form.
Inspiration: Sea turtles often mistake floating plastic for jellyfish, leading to fatal ingestion. Synthetic materials have infiltrated natural ecosystems.

Synthetic Blue emerges from this resemblance. Instead of symbolically depicting marine life, the project reshapes discarded plastic utensils into a form that mimics the fragile translucency of a jellyfish.

By transforming waste into a seductive marine apparition, the work exposes the paradox of artificial beauty and environmental harm.
Project Duration: Designed and fabricated in California, USA, 2024–2025.
Exhibited in 2025 at:
• Some Like It Hot, California Creative Arts, CA
• Pocket Gallery, Burbank, CA
Operation Flow: Viewers first encounter the sculpture as a delicate marine organism due to its translucent surface and aquatic coloration.

As proximity increases, the identity of disposable plastic materials becomes recognizable. This perceptual transition — from aesthetic admiration to material awareness — forms the primary interaction mechanism.

The work operates through visual deception and revelation, mirroring the ecological misrecognition that inspired it.
Patents: Zoe Ze Zhou
Team Members: Zoe Ze Zhou
Image Credits: Zoe Ze Zhou