The performative aspects of biomaterials: Biodegradable manioc (cassava) starch costumes for performances of regeneration.

This article examines experimental work with manioc (cassava) starch bioplastic, focusing on its material agency and cultural symbolism within Brazilian performance contexts. It details empirical tests of cassava starch bioplastic recipes—altering ingredients to control properties such as flexibility, durability, water solubility, and biodegradability—and explores their application as costumes in performances that engage with themes of regeneration and Indigenous cultural identity. The performative project "We Are Seeds" exemplifies this approach by using cassava bioplastic costumes embedded with seeds that degrade and foster plant growth, symbolizing cyclical life and environmental interconnection. These experiments were presented in workshops at the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design 2023 and the University Festival of Scenic Arts of Goiás (FUGA, 2023), highlighting the integration of material qualities, body movement, and ecological processes in costume design. The work situates cassava starch bioplastic as both a sustainable material and a culturally resonant medium that challenges conventional notions of costume as passive, emphasizing instead its active role in performance and environmental regeneration.