City of Glasgow College Students Raise Air Pollution Awareness with 'Smogware' Tea Sets

In a groundbreaking collaboration, ceramicist Ruth Impey and students from City of Glasgow College have come together for an extraordinary project aimed at shedding light on the pressing issue of air pollution. This innovative initiative, titled "Smogware," seeks to make pollution visible by transforming smog into tangible tableware.

The cups and saucers of the "Smogware" tea sets were skillfully crafted by the students, who collected particulate matter from various areas around the city, including Hope Street, Glasgow Central Station, and the Anderston underpass at the M8.

The china used in the project is a faithful recreation of the iconic 19th-century Bell's Pottery trio, originally manufactured in Glasgow's long-lost factory along the canal, which is now occupied by the M8.

To bring the vision to life, the students employed cutting-edge 3D printing technology to create master molds for the Glasgow Smogware set, using the Bell's trio as inspiration. The manufacturing process involves using particulate matter to stain the ceramic glaze, ensuring that the crockery remains completely safe for consumption.

The culmination of this pioneering initiative occurred on Clean Air Day, with an Afternoon Tea in the grand surroundings of Glasgow City Chambers, where local dignitaries and guests, including Glasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren, had the unique opportunity to sip tea from the remarkable "Smogware" tea sets.

By utilising dirt particles, harvested from the streets of Glasgow, such as dust pollution from car brakes, engines, and tires, the project visually portrays the detrimental impact of air pollution on our daily lives.

Students Keira Johnson and Robyn Speight expressed their hopes that this project will spark conversations on the critical issue of air pollution.

Keira Johnson, who has a personal connection to the cause due to a history of asthma in her family, remarked, "It feels like air pollution is getting worse and worse. My wee brother has asthma, and I used to have it when I was younger, although I grew out of it."

Robyn Speight added, "It's quite shocking to realize what our Smogware is made of, and we genuinely hope it initiates conversations and inspires change."

The Smogware concept originated from Rotterdam-based duo Annemarie Piscaer and Iris de Kievith, who have shown their support for the Glasgow project. Their initial motivation was to render air pollution visible, as despite the abundance of available data, it remains challenging to comprehend due to its invisible nature.