PLASTICITY. 2018.
An exhibition curated by Studio Edwards, bringing together leading creatives from art and design practices, furniture & product design. The alt. material collective exhibition 'Plasticity' reflects on both the material & its latent properties.
Exhibition brief:
Designers were asked to make a ‘one-off’ prototype piece of furniture that responds to the theme - ‘Plasticity’. Emphasis is placed on exploring new fabrication techniques, new materialities and new futures.
The ambition, through experimentation is to progress and share design thinking beyond mere marketability. Addressing issues of consumption, functionality and alternative agendas.
Housed within an empty office building awaiting development. A series of openings were cut in the walls to connect four rooms together to make the gallery space. Existing materials were re- purposed to make the plinths & backdrops to display the pieces within the exhibition.
All pieces were auctioned via dedicated Instagram page @alt.material with proceeds given to the Australian Marine Conservation Society, and the Matthew Harding Family Support Fund.
ARTISTS INCLUDE:
Adam Cornish
Adam Goodrum & Patryk Koca
Adam Markowitz & Apple Huang
Andrew Simpson
Ash Allen
Ben Edwards
Chris Connell
Dean Gaylor & Scott Lewis
Dowel Jones
Dylan Morgan
Ella Saddington & Kara Pickard
Geoff Nees & Matilda Rutherford
Jake Rollins
James Walsh
Jeremy Blincoe
Jonathan Ben-Tovim
Liane Rossler
Maddie Sharrock
Michael Gittings
Mitchell Eaton & Nancy Ji
Nick Karlovasitis & Sarah Gibson
Ross Didier
Tom Fereday
U-P
Designer’s Name: Liane Rossler
Name of work: A bin called Chuck. 2018.
Materiality: Bioplastic. A renewable and biodegradable material derived from corn and soy starch.
Dimensions: W = 220mm x H = 280mm approx.
Place of manufacture: Sydney, Australia
Process of the design:
‘I hand formed an original piece in clay and once it was fired to ceramic, we scanned it and 3D printed a version in bioplastic. We experimented with different material prototypes and found that the wood filament captured the earthy and tactile qualities required for this work.’
Conceptual agenda behind the design:
‘I have been investigating bioplastics and alternative materials for the last 12 years, so it was a wonderful opportunity to create something for the Plasticity exhibition. ‘A bin called Chuck’ is designed to collect paper, plastics or glass for recycling and can then be turned upside down to put your feet up once you’re finished. Twice as useful.’
What is your interpretation of Plasticity and how does your design respond to this?
Plasticity means 'the quality of being easily shaped or moulded’. My work for this project responds in a number of ways.
The original prototype for the work was moulded from clay which is a very malleable and plastic material. It comes from the earth and I love the process of creation which is so direct, and any waste can be directly recycled for reuse.
The final piece is then created from a plant based filament which can be formed into almost any shape imaginable. This material was chosen to express a handmade, earthy and tactile quality and the efficient production process creates no waste.
The corn composition is an advancement in materials technology where previously a petroleum based plastic material was more commonly used, and we now know it’s best to #keepitintheground
With thanks to Ben Allen, Karam Hussein and Kate Dunn.
