A Journey From Waste to Wonder

 

On 25th October 2024,

The Start of a Creative Journey

Inspired by Jane Bennett's concept of "activating" materials- the idea of bringing the inanimate to life. I embarked on a design journey that reimagines the potential of old, discarded objects. In Vibrant matter, Bennett emphasises us to see materials not as lifeless commodities but as vibrant participants in our creative processes.

The Search for Potential: Discovering the Perfect Piece

The day began with me and my friends exploring charity shops hoping to find something. I kept wandering around and I reached the British Heart Foundation, which was having a clearance sale.

Through the window, a chest of drawers that stood out among all the other furniture's. It had a sturdy look. I went inside made the purchase and was excited to start my project.

Just as I stepped outside, it started raining. But instead of feeling annoyed, We found ourselves laughing as I made my way back to the accommodation, carrying the heavy chest of drawers. A kind stranger noticed and offered to help me carry it. 

It was a simple but heartwarming gesture that reminded me of the kindness that exists in the world.

On 1st October 2024,

The Mapping My Chest of Drawers

Front Elevation:

Side Elevation:

The next process was hand drafting a 1:1 scale drawing of the newly bought chest of drawers. This was no digital exercise just me my pencil, and a large sheet of paper. I began by measuring the chest of drawers.I took my time, sketching lightly at first adjusting where necessary.

Once I was satisfied with the initial pencil sketch, I reinforced the lines with a fine black marker, adding depth and definition to the drawing. 

On 8th November 2024,

Deconstructing to Rebuild

After our class on introduction of 3d workshop, we headed to the workshop room . The first step was to activate the chest of drawers by deconstructing it, allowing its parts to take on new forms. I carefully disassembled the drawers, and laid out each piece waiting to be rearranged.

This process was not simply about taking apart old furniture it was about engaging with the materials in a way that their original structure while pushing them towards a new purpose. The act of dismantling was to let the materials speak for themselves to activate their hidden potential and transform them into a new functional form -- Rocking Chair for kids.

Connecting with Richard Serra’s Verbs :

 This piece is inspired by Richard Serra’s “Verb List,” with verbs like "to Join," "to Support" and possibly "to Bounce."

• To join – The screws, are not just functional but integral to the design, visibly and purposefully uniting the elements. Their presence emphasises the act of joining.
• To support: The wooden planks are arranged and are joined to support the piece together and create functional stability.
• To bounce:  In an interpretive sense, this arrangement also captures the essence in physical form: the whole structures makes you feel like “to bounce,”. the whole structure in it itself looks like an abstract rocking horse. This invites viewers to ponder how the structure might move or change.