Material Selveges






“Indeed, our ancestors were material scientists” - Akinwumi Ogundiran


  1. Air. Atmospheric Dynamics
  2. Sound. Acoustical Structuring
  3. Mass. Graviceptive Force
  4. Smoke. Aerosol Transience
  5. Scent. Olfactory Ecology
  6. Time. Processual Temporality
  7. Temperature. Thermo-affective Fields
  8. Soil. Earthen Foundations
  9. Glass. Silicate Transparency
  10. Digital. Sensory Futures



About Material Selvedges


pronunciation: /məˈtɪəriəl ˈselvɪdʒɪz/
noun (used with a singular verb)

1. A radio-making project examining materiality through Global Majority First Nations perspectives, with a focus on Southern and West Africa.

Etymology: From material + selvedges (plural of selvedge, also spelled selvage), from Middle English self + edge. The term performs deliberate wordplay with salvage (from Old French salvage, meaning "to save"), invoking both the textile concept of a self-finished fabric edge and the act of recovering suppressed knowledge systems.



Field Notes

  1. A Cartography of the Invisible


About with another



Material Selvedges is based on with another’s third design principle:
‘Multi-Sensory Materialism’ as featured in: designmanifestos.org and designprinciplesftw.com.

In partnership with African Life-Centric Design + 16/16


Material Selvedges - Iridescence Glass. Silicate Transparency v


"Minerals are the alphabet with which God has written the history of the universe."- Georges Cuvier
Research summary:
Materials science reveals crystal structures that enable technologies from computing to energy storage. Indigenous mineralogy demonstrates sophisticated knowledge of mineral properties, geological processes, and ceramic and sand tool technologies. Archaeological evidence shows traditional mining and processing techniques achieving remarkable precision and efficiency.

Glass and minerals as a material:
Crystalline structures have measurable effects on electromagnetic fields, water quality, and structural engineering. In mineral-based knowledge traditions, stones are classified by their practical properties and environmental indicators. Stone placement affects drainage, soil composition, and microclimate conditions.

Ideas we are curious to explore:
1. Global Majority particularly African glass making histories

Senses:
Vision, Tactility, Audition, Proprioception, Interoception.