Have you noticed how objects read out the mood of an environment?
I believe that this project started with an uncertainty regarding how different environments create different behaviours.
Once the ‘well-fitting’ behaviour is turned into inappropriate/unpredictable, individuals struggle with the fear of embarrassment when portraying their true self. Some neglect, while some struggle with social acceptance.
My research varied from books on Sociology to talks on how Design can change the scenario. As well as, the comparison to the mass surveillance issue, and the impact of social media, affecting the way we behave in our private and public environments. Gaining insights on Hygge & Wabi-Sabi, expressions in Dutch & Japanese culture, which dictate a way of life (Kingston, 2016); helped me understand the philosophy, and the circumstances of the expression, in relation to everyday life, leading to a personal belief in the project to make a change.
Struggling in creating an environment of empathy, with narrative experiences like story-telling via spaces (a personal interest); a breakthrough of material experiences filling the gap between human-environment relationship, made me realise the importance of objects in an everyday environment, resulting in a change of behaviour. Moreover, tableware and the social setting off etiquettes.
"With delicious meals, and light conversations, the dining table is one of the most warmest environments in the house. I believe this warmth reflects in our social performance of comfort, with designs catering to function and convenience, compared to the influence of dining etiquettes with straight spines, and steady hands."
Why ceramic as a medium? Ceramics are made of clay, a unique material, making objects that are different from each other. Translating imperfections, and the individual essence of the users; individuality in terms of their origin, their behaviour, their preferences, which differentiates them from others. The idea - bowls, dishes, and plates shouldn’t match, but as individual elements, create a harmonious whole – a landscape, as it were.
And that is how, Box Turtle was created, intending everyday objects to reflect a social performance of comfort and empathy, with designs disrupting the influence of etiquettes, and users embracing the imperfections, not just because they are ‘handcrafted’ but also because nothing can be ‘perfect’.