The chairs are the culmination of a project which set out to investigate the concept of sustainability and are constructed from four chairs that were previously in a state that rendered them unusable. The shells are polypropylene and the bases are made from beech. They are finished in colour co-ordinated decoupage sourced from newspaper and magazine cuttings.
By combining the two shells of the Robin Day Polo chairs with the bases of the cabriole legged dining chairs, I have created a striking new silhouette. The overall concept was a simple one. As products reach the end of their life-cycle, they are all too easily discarded. However, if any portion of a product can be salvaged and reused then obviously this cuts down on the impact of new manufacturing and also reduces waste.
By combining these two contrasting elements in this way, I'm hoping to challenge some of the stereotypes surrounding the concept of recycling. A secondary objective is to stimulate a conversation about peoples perception of what exactly a recycled object is. Or more importantly what it is perceived to be.
I feel there is far too much waste and a real under appreciation of the beautiful everyday objects which surround us. We are too quick to replace older objects in our lives with new and often inferior ones simply because they have become tired or in need of repair. There should be a way for us to take these objects with us as we travel through life. And as we grow and mature as individuals then the objects in our lives should reflect that transition, taking on new purpose and meaning while maintaining a link to the past.
I feel this project is a perfect example of how simple it is to give life to new objects by extracting the DNA from existing ones. It is the true evolution of an object. By taking the strongest elements of two pieces and combining them in a thoughtful, considered manner, a new stronger object is created. Not a replica of eithe but a descendant of both.
The chairs recently appeared as part of CUBEopen 2011 at The CUBE Gallery, Manchester, UK.
Discuss This Project: ( Comments)