Using urine in smarter ways
Various institutions around the world are beginning to prove the usefulness of this resource that we can all access but often ignore. Experiments have shown that urine can be used as an effective fertiliser, providing an alternative to expensive and harmful chemical fertilisers.
Most of the urine you produce is water, but at least 5% is comprised of the macro- nutrients most gardeners are familiar with; Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (as well as some trace micro-nutrients). Whilst the actual composition of your urine will vary due to diet, generally your urine is a well-balanced nitrogen rich fertiliser straight out of your body!
How we use your donation
Once collected, we store the urine for a while to kill off any harmful pathogens. Next we dilute the urine with water and then it is ready for use! There are a variety of application methods; we simply use a watering can to apply the urine directly to the soil of our plant boxes (avoiding the leaves and fruits).
This installation has impacts that ripple beyond our local project. In developing regions diverting wasted urine to fertiliser can have a significant economic value. Immense benefits can be recognised at the individual level, and can scale all the way up to industrial operations.
So, since you produce something every day that can be helpful to the environment, the earth and people the world over, you can help us by peeing in our urinals! Our installation makes it even more wonderful.
About the artist
Kamiel Rongen is an audio-visual artist who often goes by the name of Hyde Park; a title he uses as a synonym for landscapes in all shapes and forms. He creates an experience through the use of music and film, combining the two in surreal kaleidoscopic landscapes produced with chemical and organic components filmed within a fishbowl.
Information
Pure Gold by Kamiel Rongen and Mediamatic
Open 24/7
Mediamatic Biotoop, Dijkspark 6, Amsterdam
The installation is located on the streetside of Mediamatic Biotoop.
