Core cuts
Concrete: The cast stone is omnipresent. In a few years, there will be more concrete than biomass on earth. Hardly any building project can do without it. For the architects of the modern age, it meant unlimited possibilities. It set standards for efficient infrastructure and promises affordable living space thanks to its cost efficiency. However, it has also been criticised for its environmental incompatibility. To this day, there is no material that could easily replace it. Contrary to the widespread opinion that it will last for thousands of years like the Pantheon, most modern concrete buildings have a lifespan of 40 to 80 years. Its production is harmful to the climate and consumes valuable resources such as gravel and sand.
The core cuts series consists of concrete bags that appear to have been cut in half and hung on the wall when unfolded. Concrete and cement bags must be used within a year of being filled and stored in a dry place until then, otherwise they no longer fulfil the standard. As the material is very cheap, there is usually a surplus and some of the goods are disposed of. The extra for the core cuts consists of material found on the shore. These beach jewels tell the story of how people built and lived over the last 100 years. The majority are fragments of asphalt, bricks, concrete or glass that have been ground round by the current and can hardly be distinguished from natural pebbles. Even some of the stones of natural origin that we have found on the beaches of Europe do not actually occur in these regions. They must have travelled a long way.