Earth Urukurikirane rw'Ubuhanzi by Vegesent

Earth Urukurikirane rw'Ubuhanzi by Vegesent is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze in Ubuhanzi Bwiza Competition Category.

BuronzeUbuhanzi Bwiza· 2026

Earth Urukurikirane rw'Ubuhanzi

by Vegesent

Client: Vegesent

Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze Winner in Ubuhanzi Bwiza Category

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Colors

The Design

About Earth Urukurikirane rw'Ubuhanzi

Earth ni urukurikirane rw'ubuhanzi buhanitse rugizwe n'ibihangano icumi bifite imiterere y'ubuso butandukanye kandi bishobora kubora mu buryo busanzwe. Buri gihangano gikozwe hakoreshejwe amabara kamere yasaruwe n'intoki, umusenyi, ifu y'amabuye, hamwe n'ibikoresho byo mu mijyi byongeye gukoreshwa nk'ibiti byajugunywe. Buri bara rijyanye n'ikibazo runaka cy'ibidukikije. Zahabu ivuga ku myambarire ihindagurika vuba (fast fashion), umukara ku bicanwa biva mu kuzimu (fossil fuels), ifeza ku bworozi bw'amatungo, beige ku itemwa ry'amashyamba, naho umweru ku duce duto twa pulasitiki (microplastics). Uru rukurikirane rwirinda ibintu bikozwe mu buryo bwa shimi kandi rukurikiza inzira idatanga imyanda kandi idakoresha amazi. Ibi bihangano bishobora kumanikwa ku rukuta cyangwa bigashyirwa hasi nk'ibishushanyo mbonera.

The Recognition

About the Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze

Earth Urukurikirane rw'Ubuhanzi ni uwegukanye Igihembo cya A' Design Award cya Buronze, ishimwe ry'agaciro gakomeye ritangwa ku bishushanyo by'indashyikirwa birangwa no guhanga, ubwenge n'ubushishozi. Abegukanye Buronze ni ibihangano bifite ubuhanga bwinshi kandi bihanga cyane, bishimangira uburambe, ubwenge n'ubushobozi bw'ababihanze. Earth Urukurikirane rw'Ubuhanzi biteganyijwe ko izaba ikintu cyubahwa, gishimwa kandi gikundwa, gifite ubunyamwuga n'udushya. Iki gishushanyo cyegukanye Buronze gikoresha uburyo bwiza mu buhanzi, ubumenyi, ubushushanyo n'ikoranabuhanga kandi kirarenze mu gutaha ku tuntu duto. Earth Urukurikirane rw'Ubuhanzi ishimisha ibyo dukeneye, ikora ku byifuzo byacu, itwara amarangamutima yacu kandi ikurura amatsiko yacu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This earth art series in ten colors uniquely integrates hand-harvested natural pigments, sand, and reclaimed urban materials into textured, biodegradable compositions. Each color represents a specific environmental issue, turning ecological concerns into tactile visual stories. Gold symbolizes fast fashion, black fossil fuels, silver animal agriculture, beige deforestation, and white microplastic. The works innovate by removing synthetic substances, using zero-waste processes, and developing techniques that reconnect contemporary art with nature’s raw ethical materials.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 100 mm x Depth 15 mm x Heigh 100 mm
Tags: sustainable art, biodegradable materials, zero-waste techniques, reclaimed wood art, mineral pigments, environmental awareness, eco-friendly design, ethical art practices, mixed media art, natural textures
Production Technology: This series employs hand-harvested sand, natural mineral pigments, and stone powder, integrated with reclaimed urban materials such as discarded wood. Textured surfaces are achieved through biodegradable binding agent. Created using a zero-waste, water-free technique, the process involves manual pigment grinding, custom medium formulation, and sustainable surface treatments to evoke organic, earth-like surfaces.
Design Challenge: The absence of comprehensive research and accessible knowledge on the environmental impact of traditional art materials led to years of independent study, testing, and development of sustainable techniques. The greatest challenge was overcoming limited industry support, scarce data, and restrictive production options while navigating social expectations and outdated practices within the art world.
Research: This practice-based research focused on creating sustainable, biodegradable art techniques to address environmental and social challenges. Objectives included evaluating sand sterilization, mineral pigment stability, water-free cleaning, biodegradable binders, and reclaimed wood preparation. Methodology involved sieving, sanding, pigment mixing, and wood stabilization. Data from 28 texture, durability, and colorfastness tests guided improvements. Results confirmed viable zero-waste methods, advancing ethical design and ecological awareness with real-world impact on art and sustainability.
Inspiration: This project was inspired by my long-standing advocacy for environmental sustainability and animal wellbeing. Drawing on my early artistic training and years of research into ethical art practices, I sought to create a series that embodies meaningful visual storytelling. Motivated to address these concerns through individual, tangible actions, I developed this series to raise awareness about ecological crises through biodegradable materials and symbolic, earth-inspired forms.
Project Duration: The project started in October 2023 in Helsinki, Finland and is ongoing. It has been exhibited at Helsinki City Museum, Helsinki in 2024, Nordic Culture Point, Suomenlinna, Helsinki in 2024, Dormus Historical Building, Helsinki in 2024, Vapaakaupungin Eteisgalleria, Helsinki in 2024, Kulttuuritila Merirasti, Helsinki in 2025, and Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki in 2025. It received the Vegan Choice Award 2024 for ethical material innovation and sustainable art practices.
Operation Flow: The artworks can be displayed on a wall or placed flat on a coffee table as sculptural pieces. Viewers are encouraged to engage with both the textured front and the reverse side, where visible marks, paint traces, and raw materials reveal the story of their creation. This openness fosters a deeper human connection, inviting reflection on craftsmanship, process, and the environmental themes each piece represents.