Synthetic Blue Skulptuur by Ze Zhou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Rauaauhind A' Design Award in Kujutava kunsti ja kunstiinstallatsioonide disain Competition Category.

RaudKunst· 2026

Synthetic Blue Skulptuur

by Ze Zhou

Client: Zoe Ze Zhou

Rauaauhind A' Design Award Winner in Kunst Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #180954

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Synthetic Blue Skulptuur

Synthetic Blue on skulptuur, mis meenutab meduusi. Skulptuur on valmistatud täielikult taaskasutatud ühekordsetest plastsöögiriistadest, mis on termiliselt ümber vormitud ja püsivalt vaiku kinnitatud. Kuplikujuline vorm on loodud surve ja kontrollitud kuumuse abil, säilitades pinnatekstuurid, mis meenutavad bioloogilisi membraane. Teos asetseb puiduga raamitud madalas vaigubasseinis, mis viitab peegeldavale veepinnale. Vaatajad tajuvad objekti esmalt mereorganismina ning tunnevad seejärel ära äravisatud plasti – see taju muutus juhib tähelepanu jäätmete mõjule ookeanielustikule.

The Recognition

About the Rauaauhind A' Design Award

Synthetic Blue Skulptuur on Rauaauhinna A' Design Award võitja, prestiižikas tunnustus, mis antakse headele disainidele, mis vastavad professionaalsetele ja tööstuslikele nõuetele, mida oodatakse hästi disainitud töödelt. Raudvõitjad näitavad oma loojate suurt oskust, kõrget spetsialiseerumist, asjatundlikku mõistmist ja loomingulist võimekust. Synthetic Blue Skulptuur peaks olema kõrgelt hinnatud, imetletud ja armastatud looming, mis on praktiline ja uuenduslik. See Rauaauhinna A' Design Award võidudisain ühendab tööstuse parimaid tavasid ning tal on pädevad tehnilised omadused, mis on seotud oskusteabe ja andega. Synthetic Blue Skulptuur on austatud oma põhjalikkuse eest ning on loodud pakkuma elukvaliteedi parandusi, mis aitavad teha maailma paremaks paigaks.

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