2.

THREE SIDES TO

BIOMIMICRY

2. At Gaiärta we believe there are three sides to biomimicry, each of which tie into the primary objectives for the launch of our project:

2.A.

LEARNING

/DEVELOPING

IDEAS FROM NATURE

2.A. The first side to biomimicry is learning techniques and developing ideas from nature, copying it.

 

In many regards, this is something we humans have been doing for many many years: Aeroplanes, modeled on geese, and velcro, inspired by burdock seeds, are just two of many such examples.

2.B.

DEEP WISDOM

OF NATURE

2.B. The second side, one that we are beginning to focus more on, is the

‘deep wisdom of nature’.

 

Nature thrives in balance, a balance our activities have been increasingly affecting. Ever since the industrial age we have used biomimicry, more or less consciously, however it has been with limited wisdom.

 

In our new era, we understand the need and potential to unveil more of the genius of nature, what we like to call the ‘deep wisdom of nature’.

 

For certain tasks in the natural world animals might, for example, use a

hand-full of polymers, whilst we as humans use hundreds of man-made polymers to do the smallest things.

Many of these take huge amounts of energy to produce, and tonnes more to recycle them afterwards.

Just looking at the ingredients in a bottle of shampoo shows what lengths we as a species go to for the most mundane,

simple tasks.

 

What we need to learn to do is use the minimum of materials, but to be creative in the way we do it.

One material can be used for many different tasks, why use ten things to achieve a task when one will suffice?

 

It is only now that the wider population are beginning to see the necessity of sustainability and living in harmony, in symbiosis, with nature; it isn’t just a feel good option, or the passion

project of a select few, but a course of action that is vital for humanities’ future.

It is now a case of persuading the doubters that we can thrive in a balanced world, that environmentalism

and sustainability isn’t a hindrance to

commerce and innovation but the force that drives it.

 

It is understanding that nature isn’t

just a resource to be used then discarded, but a teacher of deep wisdom and balance for our common future.

2.C.

BEAUTY AS A PATH

OF CONNECTION

2.C. The third side is one that artists have been exploring for centuries, but one that is unfortunately often overlooked, or else taken for granted; it is the beauty in nature.

 

‘Beauty is a path of connection’, a generous act of co-creating life, we see this every day in music, theatre and dance, yet it goes so much further than this.

 

It truly is a fascinating subject.

In nature beauty is often integral to functionality, rather than being seen as secondary to it.

Be it for camouflage, attracting mates, or other tasks; nature is rarely simply functional.

The pattern and colours of a tiger’s fur is prized around the world for its beauty, but this beauty is at heart functional too in keeping a tiger hidden in the shade of trees; the dark lines break up the impression of a solid object in the eyes of prey.

 

The rough worn shape of a trees roots, the vibrant colouring on a bird’s chest, the slow pondering obscurity of a snail. There is a strange mix of ingenuity and frivolity in nature, a mix we ourselves can learn from.

 

There are so many shapes, colours and other wonders that can be found; the world is a better place when things are designed with beauty in mind too.

 

Beauty connects with us and we breathe it in with all our senses, it inspires us, deep in our being and brings out our more vibrant selves, elevating

our achievements: Newton and his apple,

Van Gogh and his daffodils; two very separate examples.

 

We become much more present when surrounded by beauty and nature, walking down a grey street in London or Paris your mind naturally retreats.

 

We believe that beauty isn’t something that should be confined to small areas of life, we shouldn’t have to go out

of our way to witness the wonders of nature, they should be all around us in everything we do.

 

This is something we fully believe in, strong innovative products made with beauty in mind, art with purpose.