(I have put together a link for a better overview of my work process)
The S.N.E.O. series consists of soap blocks that vary in size but not in their constituents. Soapmaking has a long and rich history spanning centuries and various cultures. The process, known as saponification, is a fascinating blend of chemistry and craft, where fats and oils are converted into soap through an alkaline hydrolysis. Soap is thus a product that emerges from the blending of fats or oils with lye.
Martin Sommer chose to produce a soap from the engine oil of a passenger elevator and a self-made lye from newspapers. He weaves a delicate narrative where the engine oil, once a fluid of movement and progress, and the newspaper, a fleeting messenger of transcending news, transition into a new form and significance. The soap, in its quiet, solid presence, may stand as a symbol for transformation or even purification, in which the essence of the fleeting and movable finds a new, resting form. Sommer's work hovers in a reflection on cycles, metamorphoses, and the silent poetry of matter.
The elevator oil, rich in lubricants and various chemical compounds, posed a substantial challenge due to its differing chemical composition compared to traditional fats and oils. Finding a way to work with the oil and transferring the adapted chemical formula from theory to practice turned out to be a complex chemical endeavor.
Here's the equation of the classic soap, based on the reaction of triglycerides with sodium hydroxide:
C₃H₅(C₁₈H₃₅O₂)₃ + 3 NaOH → 3 C₁₈H₃₅O₂Na + C₃H₈O₃
Here's the adapted chemical reaction based on the use of potassium hydroxide (KOH) to synthesize soap, incorporating octanoic acid (C₈H₁₆O₂) and stearic acid (C₁₈H₃₆O₂):
2KOH + C8H16O2 + C18H36O2 → C8H15O2K + C18H35O2K + 2H2O
In parallel, the artist dedicated himself to producing his own potassium hydroxide. He burned old newspapers he had collected over two years. The ashes of these newspapers, rich in alkaline components, were then mixed with water to extract the alkaline elements. After filtering the mixture to remove solid particles, the water was evaporated to yield a concentrated lye.
With both main ingredients ready, the artist commenced the saponification process. The engine oil was blended with the self-made lye. Despite the unconventional materials, the same chemical reaction took place here, wherein the oils and lye reacted to form soap. This process required much patience and experimentation, as the ratio and reaction time had to be adjusted to achieve an optimal result.44
After the soap was shaped, it began to mature and harden, just like in traditional methods. This hardening process spanned over six months. The end product consists of soap pieces that carry traces of their unusual origin, the dark color of the engine oil, and the subtle textures of the newspaper lye. The S.N.E.O. series immerses the viewer into a world of subtle transformations, where soap blocks provide a quiet stage for a reflection on materiality and change.
Text: Niklas Koschel
