My ideas changed a little bit regarding the furniture i am going to make on this course. This is upgraded project proposal.
Katarzyna Typek/Project proposal/MA Designer Maker
Project title:
Polish folklore in contemporary design
Aims + Objectives:
Kashubian folklore. Traditional pattern -What role plays today?
As a interior designer and illustrator important for me is explore new opportunities in field of art and design and folklore environment. Folk art known in Poland as (simple art of daily life) is widely cultivated. Folk art is divided into seven different type, characterized by different style. Every style it is also different in every single city or village. My main interest of that art is placed in north of my country. Style called Kashubian , very new and interesting for me, known from the books of it’s characteristic art decoration. Through a process of research this project will explore life of Kashubian people , their believes and relation to tradition nowadays. Whether this art disappears or if it continues , and how it is perceived by today’s generation. I am especially interested in confront this style in concept of low budget wooden object as furniture(or set of furnitures). Especially in this case when Kashubians are not making object as furniture, in compare to other styles of polish folk art.
Another important part of my project is to study the various crafts in order to understand their usefulness in the production process based on a Polish folk crafts. At this point based on my personal experience and observation of design trends, production methods are to bring more benefits to its results.Therefore, are those that better match the main idea of my project: the concept of kashubian art with the fields of contemporary craft and design.
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To identify the importance of tradition of today’s Kashubian art.
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To explore how Kashubian pattern appear in contemporary design.
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To create a body of work furniture that explores my point , techniques, sketches and practice samples.
Context:
historical
My interest is in history and origin of Kashubian. The changes which were taking place in their culture . Time between the first and second world war and the time after the war. The tradition preserved till today in the famous schools of embroidery. Characteristics of 8 school Kashubian embroidery.
Contemporary:
artists related to my proposal is Stanislaw Witkiewicz polish artist, writer ,philosopher. Artist from southern Poland , creator of famous folklore style. Zakopane style known from wooden objects, furniture, decoration making.
Fascinated with the culture of people from mountains (Podhale )proposed the creation of a new style based on the popular building highlander , general admired by all the guests at the Podhale for casting a unique folk art as aesthetic maturity and refined simplicity which fit perfectly into the landscape . The new style was not only architecture , but also furniture , wood-carving , products of small household items and decorations made of wood , fabric and embroidery : rugs , blankets , etc.
New style of Zakopane , which rapid development starts in the 80s of nineteenth century, wasn’t only aesthetics , but also – as generally in Poland were reminiscent of that age – mission to rescue national substance.
Witkiewicz to his artistic ideas: ” Hidden against the tsarist censorship subtext was clear to all of the Poles in Poland divided between the occupants, priority was to preserve national identity and giving it expression in art . ”
Thanks so Witkiewicz and his style, which he wanted to give national status , Zakopane became a meeting place for intellectuals,writers,artist.
By staying in that place ,motivates you to take action and reflection about art and nature.
In my project I would like to take up the challenge and do experiments to create my own decorative motif, inspired by the style mentioned above,inspired by the vegetation, but also from the traditional paper cut-outs decorations and embroidery. I’m going to find
the perfect one adequate and harmonizing with my furniture by study Highlands themes from that particular region of my country.
S.Witkiewicz Willa Koliba
Dutch Designers
I think that everyone who is interested in today’s design knows or heard about this
name. Tord Boontje is a Dutch designer. He combine advanced modern technology with traditional craftsman, creates unusual designs lighting, furniture, glass. `
He was born in 1968 in Enschede in the Netherlands, but grew up in Sweden, where his mother comes from. From his mother he learned the practical approach to life and optimism. That she also drew attention to his abilities and helped them grow. Art and design accompanied him since he was a child.Tord studied industrial design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, and then the Royal College of Art in London. In Eindhoven taught to experiment, to invent items that do not exist yet. In London, looked at the design broadly, watched it as it combines with art and other disciplines. In 1996, Tord Boontje open his first Studio. Initially, his work was minimalist, strict, ascetic, intentionally unfinished. (This is a collection of furniture Rough and Read). Also the project (tranSglass ) created in collaboration with Emma Woffenden, life partner of Todd. They used wine , beer bootles and created a collection of : vases, glasses, carafes and candlesticks. TranSglass was very successful at the exhibition 100% Design, after all they receive orders of design and their studio could develop. The breakthrough was the birth of his daughter in 2000.
That time has been a shift towards decorative and cozy, creating an atmosphere. The designs are delicate, warm, more feminine. As he says, he began to think differently about the house, woke him writhing nest instinct. It seems that from this point his style becomes clearer in form. His trademark are floral motifs, a tangle of flowers, leaves, twigs and small animals, as birds. It features real poetry decoration, while it does not go towards the baroque splendor. Extraordinary imagination of insightful observation of the natural world and pure emotion makes this effect. Because design it is also a “feeling”. Projects are natural, free, friendly. And also graceful and with unique charm. Romance combines with functionality, the new with the old, nature and technology. Tord knows how to use traditional themes and apply them in a modern form.
Piet Hein Eek -designer, architect,producer based in Netherlands , i discovered his work recently, and specially appeal to me “The Waste Project” its the closest to my proposal project not only because the author has been inspired the same way as me by unwanted , rejected object but also by not tolerating, unnecessary waste of necessary items.
Piet Hein create a products which aren’t perfect , and they can be still acceptable in the matter of aesthetics and functionality.Product made with materials abundantly available. ‘Uncommon materials combined with methods that were equally uncommon, but also simple…’ Designer likes to ‘show the work that is gone into a product, show the screws and details. Details were born from necessity, out of simplicity, but can be designed so that it looks like they are an enrichment…’ P.H.Eek
Everything he does a huge collection of work its made by hand. The waste project-furnitures were made of a huge amount , cut down blocks of wood , which resulted in an exceptionally beautiful results, thanks to the diversity of wood finish, and a hole process of making, concept of marquetry which i would like to go through by making my object. Not only to build the raw object, but give it a value of search and discovery.
P.H.Eek “ The Waste Project”
Methodology:
I would like to go into the process of making , but not only to be limited by just creation of furniture, but go through this process with all kinds of attempts and experiments. I would like to know more about the secrets and ‘ recipes ‘ of creating furniture and knowledge of wood, which will be my new challenge with furniture making .
I am planning to find out more about furniture design methodologies in Poland, and for this case i would like to go to north of poland to visit Kashubian museums and visit embroidery schools to learn more about their patterns.
-Marquetry technique is another task which i want to explore , mainly , to learn more about the technique it self. And for this purpose very helpful for investigation will be my home town ,where the marquetry-furniture , has been very famous and known ,for the whole country, in the 18th century. Today the museum of those unique furnitures is closed and they can only be found in private houses. I’m going to find a few people and talk to them about this valuable technique and also study the book published in the honor of those great furnitures.
My proposed model will have a finishes, pattern in example of my own marquetry technique.
– Nowadays cabinet making : I would like to find company dedicated to making cabinets, here in the UK and just to see how does it works the process of making here , maybe to compare with how it is made in my country.
Resources:
To create my object i will use university facilities , and also knowledge i will gain while studying and way of trying. The main material will be every kind of wood, plywood.
Planned Outcomes:
Outcomes of my planned final work will be example of sets of furnitures required small budget production.
Work Plan:
1.the first stage in first year of the course i have to find right objects witch perfect for me shape, size and built it from the proper material ( go through the wood research)
2. find out the right techniques to built the objects , and make the right connection joins,( research on the different techniques of furnitures building)
3.internship for furniture making to learn and make observations about nowadays furniture making.
4.find out about different techniques in furniture finishes and make my own finish for example: laser cut,marquetry technique. Folklore- Kashubian decoration.
Bibliography:
Books
Stanislaw Witkiewicz “ Zakopane Style”
Marquetry-furnitures of my town “ meble kolbuszowskie”
Web
museum of Zakopane
http://www.muzeumtatrzanskie.com.pl
Piet Hein Eek
Primary Research
taking and interviewing , craftsmen , and right people related to my project.
Polish Folklore Design 