Designing Sculptures from Insect-Produced Natural Polymers
Designer Ori Orisun Merhav transforms insect resin into innovative, large-scale architectural installations.
1Biological Origins of Shellac
Designer Ori Orisun Merhav utilizes shellac, a natural polymer secreted by Kerria lacca insects. These tiny creatures, roughly the size of sand grains, feed on tree sap and convert it into a protective resinous enclosure. Merhav harvests this hardened material to create translucent, amber-colored sculptures that challenge traditional industrial manufacturing methods.
2From Research to Art
Originating from her 2022 graduation project at Design Academy Eindhoven, Merhav’s work evolved into the Made by Insects practice. After traveling to Thailand to study lac cultivation, she identified the economic decline of natural resin due to synthetic alternatives. Her research seeks to revitalize this material through experimental, high-end design applications.
3Glassmaking Techniques Applied
Merhav treats shellac similarly to glass, heating the material until it softens for blowing into hollow forms. Early experiments with large, individual bubbles proved brittle, leading her to adopt the insects' own construction logic. By clustering smaller, interconnected cells, she creates structurally sound, botanical-looking chandeliers that cast warm, ambient light.
4Advancing Digital Fabrication
In 2023, Merhav expanded her practice into digital fabrication by collaborating with Ginger Additive and the Bio-Polymer Lab. She successfully 3D-printed shellac without chemical modification, relying on temperature control during extrusion. The resulting Morphopoiesis vessels feature irregular, cellular walls with visible layers, demonstrating the potential for natural polymers in modern manufacturing.
5Gallery Installations and Scale
Her exhibition at Sarah Myerscough Gallery, titled Portal Into The Multi-Species, features works like The Woven Insect Canopy. These installations incorporate palm sheaths coated in resin, supported by steel structures. Pieces such as Bifurcation reach 140 centimeters in height, effectively transforming a protective biological shelter into a large-scale, illuminated architectural element.
6Mutualism in Design Practice
The project emphasizes the ecological relationship between lac insects, host trees, and human harvesters. Merhav views her design process as a form of mutualism, where human participation supports the maintenance of insect habitats. This collaborative approach highlights the many participants involved in producing a single, sustainable material for contemporary interior environments.
7Recognition and Future Outlook
Merhav’s experimental approach to material production earned her a 2026 Dutch Design Award. Her work continues to push the boundaries of fragility and fabrication, imagining a future where biological processes inform our built environment. By integrating 3D printing with natural resins, she offers a tangible glimpse into sustainable, post-human architectural possibilities.
8Redefining Material Utility
By moving shellac from furniture finishing to structural art, Merhav shifts the focus from human-centric utility to interspecies cooperation. Her research proves that traditional materials can be re-engineered through modern technology. This transition marks a significant shift in how designers might source and build with regenerative, bio-based materials in the future.