Quenched asbestos x Winnie Herbstein

Design, ceramics, editorials

Hello, I’m Benedetta, a social designer and material researcher based in Amsterdam. I explore how materials connect culture, environment, and design. With a background in ceramics, I collaborate with archaeologists, artisans, and industry partners to experiment with materials and learn from traditional crafts. I see materials not just as substances, but as carriers of history, knowledge, and cultural meaning. Through research and design, I aim to rediscover techniques, learn from craftsmanship, and create dialogue across different fields.

Quenched asbestos x Winnie Herbestein

Supported by Rijskakademie van beeldende kunsten, Amsterdam
Relief of black mould spore ‘stachybotrys chartarum’, stoneware and treated asbestos glaze, 30x60x4 cm, 2024.

Panel III, treated asbestos glaze on pressed stoneware, pattern and panels realised by Winnie Herbstein, 2024.

Panel II detail, treated asbestos glaze on pressed stoneware, pattern and panels realised by Winnie Herbstein, 2024.

The series of ceramic reliefs depict a micrograph of the black mould spore ‘stachybotrys chartarum’. This specific species is found to grow on asbestos, a highly toxic material used within domestic and industrial construction. The panels are glazed with ‘Quenched Asbestos’, a glaze composed of treated absestos and recycled glass, developed during the Techfellowship program of Rijksakademie in 2022.

Panels I, II, and III, treated asbestos glaze on pressed stoneware, pattern and panels realised by Winnie Herbstein, 2024.

For information or collaborations: info@benedettapompili.com

Font in use: Authentic Sans by Christina Janus and Desmond Wong.