Material Experiments

 
 

Christmas Tree Materials

This is exploration of the possibilities of waste materials began with 2 Christmas trees, abandoned on the curb after fulfilling their Christmas destiny and transformed into a series of experiments using all the different parts of the tree. Through this work I want to change the thinking around discarded objects to be seen as positive and full of potential.

 

Kitchen Waste Experiments

In this material research I explored what could be made out of food waste. This work ranged from looking at waste left behind from food consumption in experiments with egg shells and banana peels, as well as thinking about what could be made from spoiled food like moldy strawberries and mandarin oranges.

 

Going in Circles

This is a series of playful experiments to better understand round objects. I have always been intrigued by the organic curvatures in nature and been intrigued by how difficult they are to replicate. I mimicked the processes of pressure, erosion, and growth to learn different methods of rounding.

 

PRESSURE: Using mallets and hammers, I formed a cube and sphere out of aluminium foil. I hammered the shapes for over 2 hours, finding the repetitive process almost meditative. The cube warped with each strike but the sphere, although imperfect, formed naturally.

EROSION: I experimented with nature’s process of rounding forms. Inspired by erosion, I place rectangular chalk pastels in a box lined with paper and took it on a 6 kilometre run. With each step the sharp edges softened and the corners chipped away.

GROWTH: I wanted to explore nature’s layered growth, illustrated in tree rings or the concentric spheres of onions. I used layers of wax over wood to recreate this process  and  observed each new application of wax rounding the overall shape.