#Blog 4 Mastering Materials

  #Blog 4

Mastering Materials

On the morning of  21st October 2024, I visited a charity shop to find a piece of furniture for my Creative Theories class, which was quite an interesting experience. We were instructed to select a piece of furniture and transform it based on verbs inspired by Jane Beneath and Richard Seira.

Furniture before Dismantling

I thought about finding a versatile piece of furniture, and I came across a table that functions both as a table and as a storage space. I decided to choose that one. Then, we were instructed to create a 1:1 drawing of the furniture."

We attended a workshop induction where we learned how to use the machines available, and I discovered there were so many tools to explore. I had learned similar skills during my undergraduate studies, but the tools and machines here were different from those back home.

Next, the task was to dismantle the object, so the process began. I was surprised to find so many nails used and intricate joinery details involved in what seemed like a simple piece of wood.

Richard Seira’s concept of verbs focuses on looking at things in terms of actions or processes rather than just objects. Instead of thinking of a piece of furniture as something that just "sits there," Seira would want you to think about how it "moves," "changes," or "interacts" with its environment. 

His idea is that objects are not static—they are always part of a larger process, transformation, or experience. By using verbs, we can explore how things evolve, how they connect, or how they react over time. It’s about seeing things as active and dynamic.

Based on Richard Seira’s concept of verbs, here’s how you could interpret the actions "collect," "discard," "grouping," and "gather" in a design or creative context:

1. Collect: This verb could represent the action of bringing together different materials, ideas, or objects into a single space. It's about capturing and preserving things that have value or potential for transformation.

2. Discard: Discarding, in this context, could mean letting go of materials, ideas, or elements that no longer serve a purpose in the design process. Discarding could also reflect the removal or abandonment of old systems or practices to make room for new, innovative approaches.

3. Grouping: Grouping refers to organizing or clustering elements together based on similarities, relationships, or intended use. Grouping emphasizes how things interact and relate to one another, whether in a physical object or a conceptual space.

4. Gather: To gather involves bringing things together with a sense of intention or purpose.  Gathering is about unifying elements into a collective whole, which could be a physical object, a collaborative project, or a conceptual framework.

These verbs all emphasize process and transformation, which are core to Seira’s approach. They focus on the actions and interactions of things, rather than simply seeing them as static objects. 

Sorting was done this week and will continue further...