About Silicone

Silicone sealant is a familiar but largely overlooked material. Usually confined to the edges of baths, sinks and windows, it is designed to seal gaps, join surfaces and keep water out. Its success often depends on remaining unnoticed.

Part of the wider family of silicone rubbers, sealant is supplied as a thick, extrudable paste that cures into a flexible, resilient solid. Unlike materials that harden through drying, silicone sets, retaining the shape and surface detail of its application. Its unusual combination of softness, elasticity and durability allows it to behave in ways that can seem contradictory.

Silicone rubber is widely used in art and industry for mould-making and casting, where its ability to reproduce fine detail and release from other materials is particularly useful. Sealants, meanwhile, are formulated to adhere to surfaces and remain in place, from everyday domestic applications to structural glazing in contemporary architecture. Beyond these uses, silicones also play important roles in medical devices, electronics and solar technology.

For my work, the appeal lies in silicone sealant’s ability to be deposited directly, without a mould, and built up into forms that retain the marks of their making. Even when fully cured, it can retain an appearance of softness, wetness or instability.