For even more eco-responsible designs, we have the solution.
What'zhat being a design agency based in Vietnam, this subject affects us doubly. Indeed, issues concerning ink and air pollution are part of our daily lives. This is why today we present to you the story of Air Ink.
THE BEGINNINGS AIR INK
When Anirudh Sharma was just a student at the time, he travelled to India. He took this rather artistic photo of his native country, which sparked off a brilliant idea: black ink made from the pollution in our car exhausts.
More details on this anecdote in this TED TALK video.
He then embarked on several homemade experiments to find out if his project was really feasible. It is a success. With his team Nikhil, Nisheetj and Nitesh they then transformed their living rooms into assembly lines for their innovative pens. That was in 2012, since then production has continued to grow and Ink Air is now used by artists around the world.
HOW DOES PM2.5 BECOME A WORK OF ART?
Air Ink is first of all Kaalink, the small machine that can be attached to any exhaust pipe to extract PM2.5. This complicated scientific name actually simply corresponds to the pollution dust created by our cars, motorcycles, factories, etc.
One pen then corresponds to 40 – 50 minutes of pollution from a Diesel engine. However, you must be wondering if this ink is then completely healthy and of good quality. Well that’s the case. In fact, what is dangerous in pollution dust are the microparticles, so fine that they pass into our lungs and our blood! By compacting these particles in the ink they then become harmless.
Especially since on November 1, 2018, the WHO announced in Geneva that pollution kills 7 million of us per year, Air Ink is therefore timely!
PROJECTS MADE WITH AIR INK
In July 2016, the team collaborated with Tiger Beer and made a promotional video.
The video was a smash hit and was picked up by news organizations around the world. So artists started flocking in and wanting to get their hands on one of these markers.
Here are two of them:
Kristopher Ho, Muralist from Hong Kong, his Instagram account.
The artist Caratoes designs a wall with Air Ink. Image c/o CNN
OTHER PROJECTS ON THE KICKSTATER PLATFORM
Kickstarter, which is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, is a platform that connects entrepreneurs with creative ideas and contributors ready to invest in these projects. It is on this platform that Air Ink was able to obtain the budget necessary for its development.
They classify projects by category:
- Art,
- Comics and illustration,
- Design and technology,
- Cinema,
- Gastronomy and creation,
- Games,
- Music and publishing.
Some of our favorite projects at What'zhat:
♻️ Iris – The drawing tool that inspires creativity
♻️ Via – Waterproof sneakers made from recycled ocean plastic
♻️ Other promising projects that give us confidence in the future!
To follow the Air Ink adventures, don’t forget to subscribe to their Instagram page.