Material Memory Studio — Research
Material Research Library
A living archive of material references, historical sources, biomaterial experiments, pigments, binders, and artistic research — accumulated across 12 countries and ongoing studio practice.
Each entry includes what the material is, why artists use it, historical context, basic process, common failures, and Jay's own studio notes. The library grows with each workshop, residency, and research trip.
Field Research
Material Trips
Field research documentation — New York · Boston · and beyond
Browse by Category
Funori — Seaweed Algae Binder
A red-algae glue from Kyoto — gentle, reversible, and nearly the opposite of rabbit skin glue in how it's made and used
Egg Tempera
Egg yolk as paint binder — history, preparation, and layering with one of painting's most stable mediums
Traditional Gesso
Rabbit skin glue and chalk — the original ground for panel painting, from medieval altar panels to contemporary studio practice
Agar Bioplastic
A seaweed-based flexible bioplastic — sheets, films, and castings from red algae
Indigo Vat — 3-2-1 Fructose Recipe
Natural indigo fermentation vat using fructose as reducing agent and calcium hydroxide as alkali
Sodium Alginate
Brown seaweed biopolymer — strings, castings, and mould-making via calcium crosslinking
Gelatin Bioplastic
Animal-based flexible bioplastic — warmer, stronger, and more forgiving than agar
Starch Bioplastic
Corn, tapioca, and wheat starch bioplastics — the most accessible and food-based biomaterial recipe
Learn & Make
From archive to studio — learn these materials in person
The research here forms the foundation of our workshops and 1:1 material consultations. If you want to work with a specific material — hands-on, in the studio — reach out.
Group & Private Workshops
Material Memory Workshops
Hands-on sessions in Seoul — botanicals, pigments, natural dye, and more.
View workshops →
1:1 Material Consultation
Private Material Advisory
For artists and makers who need specific material guidance for a project.
Or email: hello@materialmemorystudio.com