The starting point for SAND SCHOOL was to investigate what this sand is in itself. During the two-week SAND SCHOOL workshop, we conducted physical experiments with the sand: we made art with it, attempted to make glass, developed sculptures, extracted sound and metals, and studied its internal composition in consultation with experts from the mineral industry and through conversations with local people – who regularly have their shoes filled with sand on their walks.

Throughout the work, we asked a number of questions: What is the mineral composition of the sand? Can the elements be separated and further refined? How is the waste sand bound with cement, water and aggregate, and can it be shaped into long-lasting sculptures? What happens when we melt it – can it turn into glass? How can the surface and shape of the sand be captured in the encounter with textiles, latex and silicone? And how can the sand function as a storyteller – about time, extraction and changing landscapes?

Together we engaged in a process-oriented exploration of residual waste as a material for art production, but also as an entry point to broader environmental and industrial issues. The changing functions and roles of sand opened up artistic, philosophical and political meaning-making, and formed the basis for new forms of knowledge exchange between artists, experts and local populations.

Click on the individual artists below to see the results of the process.