Some artists work with clay, acrylics, or watercolors. David Umemoto works with cement.
The Canadian artist and architect recently unveiled a sculpture comprised of bricks, each representing a building block toward a more sustainable future. A key ingredient in the piece is ultra-low carbon cement made by Swedish manufacturer Cemvision.
Cemvision makes cement through a unique circular process that utilizes industrial waste—such as slag from steelmaking and by-products from mining—instead of virgin limestone, while also electrifying production to eliminate fossil fuels. The result is a product that reduces CO2 emissions by up to 95%.
Green cement is a provocative medium for Umemoto’s statement piece.
“My work revolves around reimagining and deconstructing concrete to create new forms,” Umemoto says. “This aligns with Cemvision’s mission to rethink cement by using what already exists and turning it into something new.”
Cement production accounts for 8%of global CO2 emissions. While cleaner construction materials can go a long way toward combatting climate change, it will take a broader movement involving designers, suppliers, and regulators to reshape the system as a whole. Cemvision sees Umemoto’s sculpture as a “rallying cry for change.”
“Green cement can fully replace traditional cement in a multitude of construction applications, at commercial scales,” says Max Larsson von Reybekiel, Cemvision’s chief marketing officer. “Still, industry players, standard committees, and legislators often remain hesitant.
“We’ve realized our main competitor isn’t another company—it’s doubt,” Reybekiel adds. “This beautiful sculpture is a way to counter doubt with belief, since we know that seeing is believing.”
The piece is installed at Norrsken House in Stockholm, a prominent coworking and innovation hub dedicated to creating a positive social and environmental impact. Other Norrsken Houses are located in Barcelona and Kigali, Rwanda.
“Norrsken is a global powerhouse when it comes to climate impact,” Reybekiel says. “So, it’s a great location for the sculpture where it is exposed to thousands of impact entrepreneurs, politicians, thought leaders passing by every year.”
The collaboration with Cemvision gave Umemoto the opportunity to experience working with the material first-hand.
“I was curious to see if it would feel and behave like traditional cement, which it did,” the artist says. “Learning about the scalability of green cement gave me hope. I don’t have to give up on concrete just yet.”
