FATBERGs in the London sewer express their materiality in various processes and through surprising transformations of its substance. On the rim of the berg, where it’s just about to come into being, a floating oily froth announces processes of separation and increased solidification. A little further down the sewer pipe small deposits of hardening fat crawl up the rounded walls growing ever thicker as we move further in. This process of crystallisation and sedimentation increases steadily until both ends of the wall meet and form a bouncy lipid crust. The fat-bridge initiates and then speeds up the formation of a solid fat structure by skimming of most of the surfaced excess fat. In some areas the FATBERG turns as hard as dried clay while in other parts it remains dough-like. The potent organic mix is colonised by unimaginable quantities of worms feasting on its rich nutritional value, transforming fat and feces into soil.

Special thanks to Thames Water
Video editing by Gyalpo Batstra