There are a lot of artist starting to use terraskin as a paper alternative particularly those doing metal point. Their website explictly says that the stuff is designed to degrade under “the right environmental conditions” of heat, moisture and UV light. For this reason it seems to me very risky to use. Others argue that if kept indoors and protected from UV light it should be fine. I don’t think once an artist sells a piece of work that they have any control over how it is displayed. Could you please weight in about the potential longevity and issues of these stone “papers” for fine art work?
Personally speaking, I agree that it does sound risky to use a material which was designed to degrade; although it is an excellent way to avoid adding more material to a landfill, that’s not exactly the quality you want for long-lasting work. Terraskin is 80% calcium carbonate and 20% high density polyethylene, and the degradation process it undergoes is similar to that of eggshells. As you’ve mentioned, it is very difficult to control the way an object is displayed once it is sold, so if you’re bent on using Terraskin the work should probably come with a disclaimer, or at the very least exhibition and installation instructions.
The other thing to consider is that some people have experienced difficulty mounting Terraskin for display, due to the unique nature of the material – this may make it problematic if you were considering mounting your work for exhibition.
I completely agree with Gillian…also paper supports are ALSO biodegradable if that is what you are after. But conservators, museum staff, etc. work tireless to PREVENT these degradation processes. The only benefit I can really see with using these supports is if you are against cutting down trees or using any plant products that are typically used to make most paper substrates…..however, realize that almost all plastics (like polyethylene) are derived from the petroleum business so there is that to consider.
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