Creating Art with Expanded Polystyrene

by Brian Flax | Jun 12, 2017

Expanded Polystyrene, or EPS for short, is a versatile material. EPS can be manufactured for use as insulation in new build and retrofit applications, insulated foundation systems, civil engineering applications, material for safety equipment like car seats and bicycle helmets, moulded into product packaging solutions, and it can even be turned into works of art.

While the KORE Blog has focused on the use of Expanded Polystyrene for the insulation and construction industries, we thought it would be a good idea to showcase some of the other industries where EPS can be useful. In our latest post on the blog, we’ll focus on the use of EPS for polysculpting.

Thomas Ashe 2017 Sculpture for Lusk, Co. Dublin

Artist Paul D’Arcy is currently using KORE Expanded Polystyrene to create a sculpture to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Thomas Ashe.

“Thomas Patrick Ashe was a man who gave a lasting legacy to the community of Lusk and had a profound effect on the nation of Ireland.

The concept of this sculpture is to portray Thomas Ashe as a cultural revivalist which was the root of all his beliefs. These he expressed as a school master in Corduff National School, by his foundation of the Black Raven pipe band and Gaelic Athletic Association in Lusk.” (source)

You can learn more about the Thomas Ashe 2017 Sculpture, or make a donation to the crowdfunding campaign by visiting artist Paul D’Arcy’s website.

The Television Series ‘Vikings’

KORE Expanded Polystyrene has been used to create props and set designs on numerous television series, including the historical drama, ‘Vikings’. Take a look at the caves below created with KORE EPS and featured on the set of Vikings, courtesy of Ardmore Studios.

Why use Expanded Polystyrene?

EPS is lightweight and versatile, making it the perfect material for sculpting. It is non-toxic and chemically inert, meaning it can be safely handled without specialised equipment. Often times EPS is covered in clay, polyurea skin or other coatings to help with the finer details or for painting. It’s also possible to paint expanded polystyrene on the material itself, as the blocks provided are white in colour.

Expanded Polystyrene is easy to work with and can be sculpted or cut into many different shapes and sizes without expensive equipment. EPS won’t degrade over time or absorb moisture or water. In addition, Expanded Polystyrene is an affordable material with quick turnaround times for those on a budget or strict deadlines.