Project proposal.
Project title: Value of New and Old’ Interdependence in furniture design’
Research question: What is the question or issue you wish to explore through the MA course?
I would like to undertake an subject and definition of making and exchange between old and new in furnitures (recycling)
It is not new to say reusing and recycling are recurrent concepts in nowadays life.With their use ranging from marketing strategies to environmental politics, the internet is plenty of platforms , tutorials, networks and all sort of their projects related to this ideas. The Wikipedia entry for ‘reuse’ tell us about the difference between “ The conventional reuse where the item is used again for the same function, and new-life reuse where it is used for a different function. In contrast, recycling is the breaking down of the used items into raw materials which are used to make new items”. Even of view it also mentions , among the advantages of reusing , that “some older items were better handcrafted and appreciate in value”.
My proposal takes idea, of using parts of used furniture pieces , which after being integrated with new materials as part of a new object I am expecting to generate a dialogue between old/used and new/unused.
I am especially interested in the idea of ‘value’ as used in the sentence from the article mentioned above
and the potential to replace the value of new / old maiden and / historic.By confront this concept in new completed objects i would like to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of the exchange value. How does it add? How to subtract? What method? These are some of the questions I intend to answer.
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 of, start, based on my personal experience and observation of design trends, understand that, in particular, the “one-off” and “small batch” production methods are to bring more benefits to its results and, therefore, are those that better match the main the idea of my project: the concept of values associated with the fields of contemporary craft and design.
The context: Who are the key artist/designers/writers or other creative individuals related to your project? What are the key ideas or developments that are central to your area of interest?
The artist/designer/writers related to my project are:
Zac freeman ,collage- portrait artist from United states .His art wors made generally from collected junk,found object and trash,he is forming the portraits by glue the bits of junk-objects to a wooden base to form an image, usually faces, which only can be seen at a distance. I really appreciate idea of Freeman of using useless objects and give them value as a new media for making portrait-art. ‘It is very important to me that I incorporate the actual objects into the art as opposed to a picture or rendition of it because it better expresses the intention of the artwork. I feel the junk is more powerful being present. It is an actual thing to be reckoned with that existed in this time and place and carries energy in and of itself. ‘ Zac Freeman
It gave me and idea to trying a new for me experiment with wood, use abandoned furnitures and wooden pieces and combine them together in one new object.To present a simple piece of furniture rich with recycled and new finishes.Also I would like to explore concept of recycling and upcycling.
Zac Freeman Junk-Portraits
Another artist related to my proposal is Stanislaw Witkiewicz polish artist, writer ,philosopher.
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
S.Witkiewicz – Beorguois Highlander Style
S.Witkiewicz – Rural Highlander Style
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.
I would like to explore concept of marquetry-technique
P.H.Eek “ The Waste Project”
Methodology: How will you go about researching your question ? What are the particular means that you will use i.e interviewing, visiting particular collections, processes for making?
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 Zakopane town in Poland from which derives the Zakopane Highlander Style. I wish do the research and record how craftsmen works in the wood, and what techniques they use over there. To learn more about history and traditions of crafts and investigate art work of S.Witkiewicz im going to do research, sketching in the museum of Zakopane,
-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 works the process of making here , maybe to compare with how it is made in my country.
Cabinet in Marquetry Technique
Resources: Are there particular resources or equipment that you plan to use for your
Research Project?if this does not come under the facilities available at Camberwell-what are your plans to gain access to this equipment?
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 wood old (not necessarily age) but that which someone bought and decided to get rid of, material which can be found on the streets of london . Material from abandoned chairs, tables,wood pieces with still visible patina, or attractive paint or scratch marks. The ‘old’ materials i’ll combine with new pieces of wood.
Planned Outcomes:
Outcomes of my planned final work will be example of sets of cabinets 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 recycled finish for example: marquetry technique
5.The second stage of my project is to be focus on second idea saying about me and my country’s culture (folklore design) as a supplement and complement to the whole object designed by me.
Bibliography:
Books
Stanislaw Witkiewicz “ Zakopane Style”
Marquetry-furnitures of my town “ meble kolbuszowskie”
Web
museum of Zakopane
http://www.muzeumtatrzanskie.com.pl
Zac Freeman
http://www.woolffgallery.co.uk
Piet Hein Eek
http://www.dezeen.com
Primary Research
taking and interviewing , craftsmen , and right people related to my project.
Polish Folklore Design 