TRACES OF FLUORINE
Fluorine is the 13th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, a highly reactive element which forms strong bonds with others. Today, fluorine is in use across the world in many different forms with a vast variety of applications including in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, but also in industrial use (like in factories), firefighting, electronics, healthcare, automotive, and wearables. “Traces of Fluorine” is an installation, which depicts an archive of fluorinated plastics, so-called fluoropolymers, and introduces a more sustainable production method, currently being researched by scientists of the SinFonia project.
While fluoropolymers have extremely useful properties such as durability, low friction and high resistance to water, oil, acid, and fire, these same qualities are also the reasons why they do not degrade fully for a very long time and persist in nature. That’s why they are sometimes also known as “forever chemicals”.
The exhibited archive is a collection of remnant parts of objects found all around different urban environments. In search for traces left by forever chemicals, our team joined an archaeological excavation site in Vienna’s city center, visited a secondhand electronics shops, and searched the attic and drawers at home. From dug out technofossils, to everyday products such as raincoats, frying pans or electronic devices, the archive represents and questions the consequences of our industrial production processes. At the center of the platform, a collection of fluorite minerals serves as a contrast: displaying fluorine as it is found in nature.
The exhibit also highlights the current chemical production process for fluoropolymers, which is a difficult and toxic process, and juxtaposing it to a possible biological production process of the future. The development of sustainable production methods is currently pursued by scientists at SinFonia. Their mission is to genetically enhance bacteria to produce fluoropolymers biologically. While the material likely won’t biodegrade faster, this type of production is safer and environmentally friendly.
Visitors are invited to explore the drawers underneath the objects, to find out what they are and where they have come from. By finding sets of 4 postcards which belong together and grouping them correctly, the puzzle on the backside reveals the place where a specific object has been found.
Additionally, each visitor is asked to give their opinion on the priority and importance of objects containing fluoropolymers. In a scenario where products are being limited while scientists seek a way to make them biodegradable, which things – visitors are asked on the voting cards – are more important to keep producing?
“Traces of Fluorine” is currently being displayed at Museon, a museum of science and culture based in The Hague (The Netherlands) boasting over 200.000+ visitors per year, of which around 50.000 are school children. The installation is right now in their permanent exhibition “One Planet“, which challenges visitors to learn about current global issues – with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a starting point – and the search for solutions.
If you are interested in hosting “Traces of Fluorine” in a museum, gallery, fair or at your event, please contact us here.
SinFonia has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 814418.