What if studying the variation in flamingo colours could be used as indicators for environmental changes?

Pink flamingo – Exhibition, 2017

The Pink Flamingo project, conducted in collaboration with the LUMA Foundation in Arles (FR), focuses on the colours of flamingoes in the Camargue region.

This design initiative delves into the changes in the appearance of greater flamingoes over the past two decades, attributed to shifting weather conditions. Flamingoes acquire their distinct hues from the algae they consume, which varies depending on their ecosystems condition. The project challenges conventional notions of pink flamingoes and produces a series of bioplastic cutlery from feathers,
imitating the varied colourations that flamingoes display in accordance with varying weather conditions.

Field work; Image of flamingoes in a park of Amsterdam, 2017

Design process

Examining various weather conditions and their effects on the coloration of flamingo feathers over the last two decades – gathered information from various articles. Experimentation with algae in saltwater, oil, metal, acid, and other environments.

Design process; Testing algae in different conditions such as saltwater, oil, metal, acid and fuel. Image taken in 2017.
Design; One bioplastic cutlery made from feathers from a rainseason(1997), made in 2016. Image by Permiin.

Project managedment by

  • Designer Louise Permiin

Supervised by

Collaboration