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Time is Running Out exhibition features 24 clocks made from biomaterials

Promotion: online platform PlasticFree and creative studio OMSE have launched a London Design Festival exhibition highlighting the urgency to find alternatives to plastic.

On show at One Hundred Shoreditch, Time is Running Out presents 24 clocks made from seaweed, hemp paper, alternative leather and bio-fibres.

Clocks at Time is Running Out exhibition
The exhibition includes 24 clocks. Image and image above credit: James Retief

"Time Is Running Out is an exhibition born out of the urgency to mobilise the global creative industry to drive positive change through a more conscious practice," said PlasticFree and OMSE.

"24 clocks will be on display, made in collaboration with pioneering material makers, acclaimed artists, designers, architects and change-makers, to illustrate what is possible."

Time is Running Out exhibition
The featured individuals and studios include Alec Doherty, Can Yang, Jordy van Nieuwendijk, Flo Meissner, Colophon Foundry and Inga Ziemele. Image credit: James Retief

The clocks, which all feature artwork by a different artist or designer, are intended to stress the urgent need to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in the next six years.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this is all the time remaining before the impacts of climate change become irreversible.

Time is Running Out exhibition
The exhibition takes place at One Hundred Shoreditch. Image credit: James Retief

"In the last six years, we've taken more natural resources than the entire 20th century. The next six years is all we have to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius," said PlasticFree and design studio OMSE.

"Time is running out. And now, in our planetary climate crisis, we need creatives more than ever."

Clocks at Time is Running Out exhibition
The exhibition has been launched by PlasticFree and design studio OMSE

London studio EBBA Architects worked with PlasticFree and OMSE to design the clocks.

The base of each one is made from a sustainably sourced wood fibre, while the clocks' outer surfaces are covered in biomaterials – seaweed, alternative leather, hemp and biofibres – provided by four manufacturers.

Clock at Time is Running Out exhibition
Time is Running Out takes place during London Design Week

These manufacturers include dissolvable seaweed packaging producer Notpla, eco-textile brand NFW, natural polymer company Traceless and hemp paper producer PureHempNY.

The artists and designers behind the different clock faces were selected following a social media competition, in a bid to shine a light on emerging talents.

Time is Running Out exhibition
The exhibition highlights the urgency to find alternatives to plastic.  Image credit: James Retief

The featured individuals and studios include Actual Source, Alan Kitching, Alec Doherty, Anna Mills, Appear Offline, Can Yang. Colophon Foundry, Eike Konig, Flo Meissner, Gregory Page, Inga Ziemele, Irina Selaru, Jacob Wise, James Andrews, Jocelyn Tsaih, Jordy van Nieuwendijk, Lennard Kok, N&MS, Ruben Alvarez, Sean Thomas, Sebastian Curi, Sofia Clausse, TYPE01 and Zoe Boudreau.

"Within the creative world, there is a growing sense of urgency to do things better and reimagine what a climate-conscious practice might look like," said PlasticFree and OMSE.

"The exhibited clocks act as frames for the 24 takes on the topic of climate emergency created by a selection of international artists and designers."

Clocks at Time is Running Out exhibition
On show are 24 clocks made from seaweed, hemp paper, vegan leather and bio-fibres

The exhibition was installed by design and fabrication studio Our Department and Puck Studio, while digital studio TwoMuch created the website.

For more information about Time is Running Out, visit London Design Festival's website or visit Time is Running Out's website to view the exhibition online.

Time is Running Out is on show at One Hundred Shoreditch from 16 to 24 September as part of London Design Festival. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Time is Running Out as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.