| PETER MARIGOLD | work |
Palindrome series
The Palindrome series was created in response to the brief set by the recent Designers of the Future award exhibited at Design Miami / Art Basel 2009. The brief specified the use of plaster and mirror as the primary materials with which to build an installation. The series focuses on the experience of symmetry with each piece comprising of half mould and half cast. The result is that the forms, textures and details on one side is mirrored on the other. The wood is first assembled as a mould and then the composite casting material is layered inside. Once this is set, the wooden mould is opened up, turned inside out and used to create the opposing side to the cast. The two sides are then bolted together using mould making fasteners. Each imperfection is complimented on the opposite side of the unit: circular saw marks become symmetrical decorative swirls, knots in the wood become motifs and holes become handles. The wooden halves of the furniture have been engraved with a Palindrome word or name, which results in the word being repeated on the cast side in raised writing. The invitation in the brief to use plaster is interesting as it is primarily an architectural / interior material rather than a common industrial design material. Keeping this in mind, the pieces reference an architectural language in both the material textures and also the simplistic proportions and forms which were derived directly from the sizes of the timber received from the saw mill.The technique of creating simple timber moulds is common in Modernist architecture, where 'fair facing' is used to create concrete structures often with a brutalist heavy wood grain. Scroll down for working process images |
The Palindrome series is now on show at Moss Gallery in New York: THE HARDER THEY FALL
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HANNAH |
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The wood grain is replicated on the cast side. The hole becomes a handle. |
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A Palindrome is a word that spells both backwards and forwards the same. Each piece of furniture is engraved with a title that results in a raised word on the opposing cast side. Etymologically Palindrome comes for the Greek for 'riding backwards'. |
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MR OWL ATE MY METAL WORM The unit is flipped around and both sides are usable as a bookshelf.
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The
title is reversable and named after Ron Arad's metal bookworm shelf.
While his is sinuous this is a simple architectonic block. |
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KAYAK |
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The
deep groove on one side of the table results in a large fin emerging
on the other. |
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TATTARRATTAT |
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ANNA |
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ANNA |
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Gun Cabinet with Marigolds |
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DEED |
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CIVIC |
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WORKING PROCESS
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The
mould is assembled from the timber |
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The
interior of the mould is varnished and waxed so that the cast can release
easily |
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The
composite casting liquid is applied in layers mixed with fibre glass
material for strength and flexibility |
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The
wooden mould is opened and the edge of the cast is trimmed down with
a grinder. |
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The
two halves are drilled and bolted back together |
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The
wooden mould for HANNAH |
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The
mould is sand blasted so that the grain of the Douglas fir timber is
emphasised. Sand blasting eats away soft grain faster than the harder
grain. |
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The
casting composite being applied. The first layer is a thick coat that
picks up all of the detail of the wood. This is bonded with the subsequent
layers of fibreglass. |
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The
mould is seperated from the cast. Wedges help as ever. |
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The
mould is taken apart and turned inside out.Some of the wood is reduced
in size so that the mould and cast are the same final dimensions. All
of the marks and residue are left on the wood. |
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The
two parts are bolted together. The engraved palindrome name on the wood
mould is mirrored onto the opposing cast side (near the bottom of the
unit) |
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KAYAK
before trimming |
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KAYAK
before the top is attached. The legs on the cast side are formed by
the negative space of the inside of the wooden legs. |
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ANNA being cast |
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The mould for MR OWL ATE MY METAL WORM
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